Larry Brooks' Slap Shots

Rangers sign Rupp, wait on Richards

July 01, 2011 , ι By LARRY BROOKS

Promised the opportunity to make a final offer at the end of the day to free agent center Brad Richards, who has been meeting with front office delegations from a handful of clubs at his agent's... Read on

Promised the opportunity to make a final offer at the end of the day to free agent center Brad Richards, who has been meeting with front office delegations from a handful of clubs at his agent's office outside Toronto, the Rangers signed former Pittsburgh winger Mike Rupp to a three-year deal worth $4.5 million.
	 
The 31-year-old, 6-5, 230-pounder is a physical, bottom-six winger with enough offensive attributes to be able to move up if necessary. Rupp, who engaged in 12 fights last year and in 40 over the past three seasons for the Penguins, recorded 17 points (9-8) with 124 PIM in 81 games last year.
	 
Rupp was a member of the Devils 2003 Stanley Cup champions.
	 
The Rangers did not send anyone from the front office to meet with Richards. The Post has learned that GM Glen Sather will be given the right to essentially match the best offer extended to the 31-year-old pivot who has been first on the club's wish list for months.
	 
Richards is believed receiving front-loaded offersthat include close to max money ($12.86 million) for each of the first two seasons of long-term deals that include a signing bonus for next July 1 to protect against a rollback and/or a lockout commencing with the 2012-season.

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Rangers' Tortorella says Capitals coach 'whining' over hit

April 19, 2011 , ι By LARRY BROOKS

John Tortorella dismissed Washington coach Bruce Boudreau's charge that the Rangers are targeting previously concussed Mike Green's head as "whining" following Tuesday's practice. "We have confidence... Read on

John Tortorella dismissed Washington coach Bruce Boudreau's charge that the Rangers are targeting previously concussed Mike Green's head as "whining" following Tuesday's practice.
	 
"We have confidence in the league and we're confident that that the officials won't be influenced by all the whining that's going on right now," said the Rangers coach, whose club will enter Wednesday night's Game 4 at the Garden down 2-1 in the best-of-seven first round series.
	 
"We have confidence in the league that [this won't] affect the series."
	 
Boudreau on Monday called for the NHL to review Rangers defenseman Marc Staal's hit on Green at 19:00 of the second period. Boudreau also charged that Brandon Prust targeted Green's head earlier in the match the Rangers won 3-2 on Brandon Dubinsky's goal at 18:21 of the third period.
	 
"Our mindset is that we're just going to focus on what we have to do to play the right way," Tortorella said. "We're not going to get into any convoluted thinking.
	 
"I have full faith in the hockey club that we will focus on the task at hand and not get involved with anything around us."

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CHAT REWIND: Larry Brooks on Rangers-Capitals

April 19, 2011 , ι NYPOST.COM

See what The Post's Larry Brooks had to say about the Rangers' first-round series against the Capitals and the rest of the NHL playoffs.The Rangers and Capitals resume their series with Game 4 on... Read on

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Rangers scratch Wolski again

March 31, 2011 , ι By LARRY BROOKS

The first message from John Tortorella to Wojtek Wolski was either unheard or went unheeded. And so, for the second time in the past eight games, the Rangers head coach made the $3.8 million winger a... Read on

The first message from John Tortorella to Wojtek Wolski was either unheard or went unheeded. And so, for the second time in the past eight games, the Rangers head coach made the $3.8 million winger a healthy scratch.
	 
Not that anyone would necessarily have noticed Wolski’s absence from the Rangers’ lineup for this critical match at Nassau Coliseum against the Islanders given the subpar effort and performance that has reduced Wolski to a bit player down the playoff stretch.
	 
“I wouldn’t use the word, ‘disappointing,’ but I hope he realizes that this is going to be a process one way or the other,” Tortorella said before the game when asked if he was disappointed the message hadn’t been received the first time. “Wooly hasn’t been awful, we think he’s a talented player, but we need him to be more involved with his talent.”
	 
Translation: It’s time -- or past time -- for Wolski to actually compete for loose pucks and play in traffic and in the dirty areas of the ice instead of spending most of his time on the perimeter and appearing engaged only when he sees open ice in front of him.
	 
If it hadn’t been before, it’s obvious why a 25-year-old talent so gifted as Wolski was traded twice within 10 months over the last year, first from Colorado to Phoenix last March, then from the Coyotes to the Rangers on Jan. 10 in exchange for Michal Rozsival.
	 
Wolski, who has 16 points (5-11) in 33 games for the Rangers, had gone 14 straight without a goal prior to sitting out with his role and minutes reduced as they were at the end of his tenure in Phoenix, where he was scratched five times before being dealt.
	 
The winger, who was selected 21st overall in the 2004 Entry Draft by the Avalanche, was benched during the Rangers’ 1-0 defeat in Buffalo on Wednesday, getting only 7:43 of ice, his low as a Ranger.
	 
Though the Rangers have not yet received value in the deal from Wolski, who has one season remaining on his contract, trading Rozsival opened minutes and a second-pair slot on defense for Ryan McDonagh. The McDonagh-Michael Sauer pair has been a formidable tandem and a positive, if indirect, byproduct of the trade.
	 
*
	 
Stephane Da Costa, the undrafted free agent center from Merrimack for whom the Rangers were in the running, signed a two-year Entry Level contract with the Senators and is expected to be in Ottawa’s lineup for their match at home against the Maple Leafs.
	 
*
	 
Henrik Lundqvist, who suffered a bruised knee in the final half-minute of the second period of the Buffalo game for which he received treatment immediately after completing the match, was in nets for his 21st straight start.

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Wolski scratched by Rangers vs. Islanders

March 15, 2011 , ι By LARRY BROOKS

Wojtek Wolski was scratched for the first time in 28 games since coming to the Rangers from Phoenix on Jan. 10, and Matt Gilroy will sit for the first time in 31 games since Jan. 2 for Tuesday's game... Read on

Wojtek Wolski was scratched for the first time in 28 games since coming to the Rangers from Phoenix on Jan. 10, and Matt Gilroy will sit for the first time in 31 games since Jan. 2 for Tuesday's game against the Islanders.
	 
Wolski was benched for all but 1:53 in the third period of Saturday’s 3-2 shootout victory at San Jose, though John Tortorella did give the winger one spin in overtime and selected him to go third in the skills competition. Wolski converted in the bottom of the third to extend the shootout before Brandon Dubinsky won it in the sixth round.
	 
Gilroy sat for all but 1:44 in the third period against the Sharks, with Tortorella cutting to two pairs, as has become customary.
	 
“I’m not going to pick through the players [who sit] each day,” Tortorella said before Tuesday's match. “With [Wolski], I think he needs to be better in certain areas.
	 
“He wasn’t horrible [on Saturday]; he just needs to be better. Just like [Gilroy].”
	 
Sean Avery, bumped on Saturday after playing in the club’s first 69 games, returned to at left wing on a unit with center Derek Stepan and right wing Mats Zuccarello.
	 
Steve Eminger, a scratch for three straight, four of the previous five and 13 of 18 since the All-Star break, was in as Bryan McCabe’s partner on the third pair.
	 
*
	 
Derek Boogaard, sidelined since Dec. 9 with a concussion, participated in the morning’s optional skate after skating on his own last week while the Rangers were on the west coast. He is not expected to play the rest of the way.

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Rangers' Gaborik likely out until next week, at least

March 03, 2011 , ι By LARRY BROOKS

When Marian Gaborik said he wasn't sure whether he'd be able to play for the Rangers on Friday in Ottawa despite having headaches Thursday morning, the winger was talking like a man with a brain... Read on

When Marian Gaborik said he wasn't sure whether he'd be able to play for the Rangers on Friday in Ottawa despite having headaches Thursday morning, the winger was talking like a man with a brain injury.
	 
"He still has symptoms," incredulous coach John Tortorella said when asked if Gaborik would indeed be an option for the match.
	 
Gaborik has missed the past four games with the concussion he believes he sustained on a Feb. 13 hit but continued to play through for another three matches before leaving during the first intermission of the Feb. 20 contest against the Flyers.
	 
The winger participated in practice Wednesday then skated Thursday morning even though he said he "woke up with headaches and stuff.
	 
"I felt pretty good [Wednesday] after practice, not as great this morning, but I thought I would try to go on," Gaborik said he spent approximately 20 minutes skating and shooting at one of the ice during the club's optional. "[Wednesday] I felt really good, but now it's day-to-day again.
	 
"I'll have to see how it responds."
	 
Gaborik meant day-to-day on symptoms, not on game decisions, not when he has been unable to remain symptom free for even consecutive days.
	 
It would seem the best-case scenario would be for Gaborik to return next Wednesday at Anaheim after missing Sunday's Garden matinee against the Flyers.
	 
"It comes in waves," Gaborik said of his headaches. "There's not as much dizziness [as before], a little after skating, but not bad.
	 
"It's better than it was when I skated on my own for the first time [last Friday]. I'm obviously not there, but ... "
	 
But he still won't be back in the lineup this weekend.
	 
*
	 
Derek Boogaard, who has been out with a concussion since a Dec. 9 fight in Ottawa in which he was popped in the jaw then tossed to the ice by Matt Carkner, was at the rink in the morning and reported he is "Symptom-free, for the most part."
	 
Boogaard, who has played in 22 games (1-1-2, with 45 PIM) in his first season on Broadway after leaving the Wild as a free agent to sign a four-year, $6.5 million contract with the Rangers, said he would begin skating on a regular basis next week.
	 
"It's very disappointing; this is not the year I wanted to have," Boogaard said. "The first of a contract, coming here, I wanted to have a good year.
	 
"But what can you do?"
	 
*
	 
Michael Del Zotto, who was returned to the AHL Whale on Sunday following the acquisition of Bryan McCabe, is likely to miss the remainder of the year after sustaining a broken finger in Wednesday's game against Springfield.
	 
Del Zotto, scheduled to see a hand specialist in Hartford, said he sustained the break blocking a shot though he was also slashed across the hand.
	 
*
	 
Marty Biron, out for at least the remainder of the Rangers' regular-season with a broken collarbone he sustained on a Derek Stepan shot in Monday's practice, also was at the training facility in the morning.
	 
"It was just a routine shot off a two-on-one, and when I felt it, I didn't think it was anything except that it would leave a mark," said Biron, whose left arm was immobilized by a sling. "Then when I tried to get up and couldn't straighten up, I knew it was bad."

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Rangers' Staal sits out again

March 01, 2011 , ι By LARRY BROOKS

Day-to-day last Wednesday has become a whole bunch of days for Rangers defenseman Marc Staal, who will miss his third straight game with a sore knee against the Sabres, and remains questionable for... Read on

Day-to-day last Wednesday has become a whole bunch of days for Rangers defenseman Marc Staal, who will miss his third straight game with a sore knee against the Sabres, and remains questionable for Thursday night's match against the Wild.
	 
John Tortorella said Staal suffered a "little bit" of setback as he skated in practice on Monday.
	 
Staal, who had never missed a game to injury in his four-year career before he sitting out Friday's match in Washington after twisting his knee in Carolina last Tuesday, did not participate in the optional morning skate.
	 
Tortorella, asked whether Staal would be able to go against the Wild in the finale of the current three-game homestand, said, "I'm not sure."
	 
The coach planned to keep the Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi remodeled first pair together against the Sabres, and said he expected to match the tandem against the Thomas Vanek-Tim Connolly-Jason Pominville unit.
	 
Tortorella moved Bryan McCabe up from the third pair on which he skated on Sunday in his Rangers' debut to team with Michael Sauer on the second pair while reuniting the Matt Gilroy-Steve Eminger duo.
	 
*
	 
Tortorella said he had "no reaction" upon learning that Marty Biron had suffered a broken collarbone when the goaltender was hit by a Derek Stepan shot at practice on Monday.
	 
"You keep moving on," the coach said. "There's nothing you can do, it's a broken bone.
	 
"Pissing and moaning about it doesn't do anything."
	 
Actually, the coach could instruct his players against being so irresponsible in firing pucks high at their own goaltenders.
	 
Indeed, this should have been done months ago when Brian Boyle hit Henrik Lundqvist in the throat with a wild shot on Nov. 3, immediately sending the King to the locker room, where it took him several minutes to catch his breath
	 
Lundqvist was fortunate to escape without injury. Biron was not so fortunate.
	 
The timing of the injury to the backup could not have been worse, coming as it did just a few hours before the NHL trade deadline. Without time to maneuver and deal for a veteran No. 2, the Rangers recalled 23-year-old Cam Talbot from ECHL Greenville to back up Lundqvist.
	 
Talbot, who was signed as a free agent last summer out of Alabama-Huntsville, went 8-3-2 with a 2.42 GAA with the AHL Wolf Pack/Whale before he was assigned to Greenville just over a week ago to rehab an injury he sustained Jan. 16.
	 
Chad Johnson, who made five starts last year for the Rangers and was on the roster for 29 games, is the Whale's current No. 1 goaltender, but it would be tricky for the Rangers to recall him and, say, give him the start Friday night in Ottawa if they decide to rest Lundqvist following Thursday's game here against the Wild.
	 
That's because NHL teams are permitted only recalls (barring defined injury emergency conditions) following the trade deadline, and the Rangers used three of them Monday by recalling McDonagh, Mats Zuccarello and Kris Newbury after they'd been assigned to the AHL in paper moves that would allow them to play for the Whale in the playoffs.
	 
If the Rangers use their fourth recall on Johnson for Friday, it would be a one-off unless they keep him with the team. There is no NHL roster limit following the trade deadline. The restriction on recalls expires with the AHL team's final game, including playoffs.

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Staal likely to miss Rangers game vs. Capitals

February 24, 2011 , ι By LARRY BROOKS

WASHINGTON -- Chances are Rangers defenseman Marc Staal will miss the third game of his career, Friday against the Capitals, because of the left knee he twisted on the first shift of Tuesday's match... Read on

WASHINGTON -- Chances are Rangers defenseman Marc Staal will miss the third game of his career, Friday against the Capitals, because of the left knee he twisted on the first shift of Tuesday's match in Carolina.
	 
Staal, who did not participate in Thursday's practice at the Capitals' training facility in Arlington, Va., will check with trainer Jim Ramsay to see whether he will be permitted to test the knee in Friday's morning skate.
	 
As much as John Tortorella would like to have Staal available with partner Dan Girardi for the match-up against Alex Ovechkin, the Rangers surely will take the cautious approach with the 24-year-old, who is seventh in the NHL in ice time at 25:37 per game.
	 
"It's a little bit sore," said Staal, who testified that the huge, shoulder-to-shoulder hit from older brother Eric with 50 seconds to go in the second period that knocked him hard to the ice had nothing to do with the knee injury.
	 
"It was on the very first shift, I was trying to protect the puck and I bent it," Marc said. "It was a little sore as the game went on. It wasn't strong. Rammer taped it up but I didn't feel safe or strong enough to put myself at risk.
	 
"I don't want to go out there [Friday] and make it worse and be out for an extended period. I'll see [in the morning]. It's their decision."
	 
If Staal cannot play, Michael Del Zotto or Matt Gilroy would play the left side with Girardi. Steve Eminger, scratched from nine of the past 10, would play on the third pair. Tortorella probably would then use the increasingly strong Ryan McDonagh-Michael Sauer tandem against Ovechkin.

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Rangers' Boogaard working with doctor in MInnesota

February 03, 2011 , ι By LARRY BROOKS

Derek Boogaard is the forgotten man. Out of sight and out of mind. Beyond that, the concussed Rangers' winger is out of New York as well. For the time being, that is.The Post has learned that... Read on

Derek Boogaard is the forgotten man. Out of sight and out of mind. Beyond that, the concussed Rangers' winger is out of New York as well. For the time being, that is.
	 
The Post has learned that Boogaard, who has been sidelined since taking a Matt Carkner punch to the face during a fight in Ottawa on Dec. 9, is in Minneapolis, working with a doctor of osteopathic medicine with whom he has a previous relationship from his tenure with the Wild.
	 
There is no timetable for Boogaard's return, but sources have said the 28-year-old winger is making progress toward a recovery from the symptoms that had plagued him following the fight and leading up to the All Star break.
	 
Boogaard, who reported to camp 25-30 pounds over the 265-pound playing weight the Rangers believe is optimal, played in 22 games before going down, recording two points (1-1) and 45 PIM while getting 4:32 of ice per game.
	 
The enforcer, on the first year of the four-year, $6.5 deal he signed this summer as a free agent out of Minnesota, has engaged in seven fights this season, but was nowhere near the feared puncher he was with the Wild, and indeed, fought more often than not to draws with the Rangers.
	 
It is difficult to envision Boogaard cracking the lineup the rest of the way given the combination of his skating limitations, his absence of nearly two months, and the depth up front within the organization.
	 
It does however appear that No. 94, who for the 2-3 weeks leading up to the break referred all questions about his health to management, which provided little information, will be making his way back to New York.
	 
*
	 
The Rangers assigned Kris Newbury to the AHL Whale following the 28-year-old journeyman center's impressive eight-game stint in which he recorded two points (1-1) and 35 PIM while playing with an edge in a fourth-line role.
	 
The move leaves the Rangers with the minimum complement of 12 healthy forwards, and for the time being eliminates a guessing game regarding the club's healthy scratch up front.
	 
Erik Christensen, down since Dec. 29 with a knee injury, is expected to come off injured reserve perhaps in time for Monday's game in Detroit. The Rangers are in Montreal Saturday afternoon.
	 
"I like what Newbury brought," John Tortorella said before the Garden match against the Devils. "He will fight, he's abrasive.
	 
"He's a guy we could call up [again]. The staff loves him because of his jam."
	 
*
	 
Steve Eminger will sit out his second straight as a healthy scratch, replaced again on the blue line by Michael Del Zotto.
	 
"I told Emmy it's not forever," Tortorella said. "I think his game has chipped down a little bit, but he's given us some good minutes here."

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Rangers' Boogaard likely done for season

January 13, 2011 , ι By LARRY BROOKS

Derek Boogaard hasn't played a game for the Rangers since taking a punch in the face from Matt Carkner during their fight in Ottawa on Dec. 9. And from the way John Tortorella put it Thursday when... Read on

Derek Boogaard hasn't played a game for the Rangers since taking a punch in the face from Matt Carkner during their fight in Ottawa on Dec. 9.
	 
And from the way John Tortorella put it Thursday when asked about the concussed winger's health and status, it doesn't seem likely No. 94 will suit up again this season.
	 
"It would be very difficult, with conditioning," the coach said before a match at the Garden against the Canucks. "It would be very difficult as far as the lineup ...
	 
"I can't...we'll have to see what happens. It's not close."
	 
Boogaard, who is in the first year of the four-year, $6.5 million free agent contract ($1.625 million cap hit) he signed out of Minnesota on July 1, has played 22 games for the Rangers, recording two points (1-1) while getting 4:32 of ice per game.
	 
The big man reported to camp at around 290 pounds, at least 25 pounds heavier than the Rangers believe is an ideal weight, and thus had issues both in getting ice time and keeping a spot in the lineup, with Tortorella believing he was not in proper condition to play an effective forechecking game.
	 
Boogaard was among the most feared fighters in the NHL during his five years in Minnesota, but was a rather ordinary combatant in his seven bouts for the Rangers. Perhaps conditioning was a factor there.
	 
Originally believed to have suffered a shoulder injury after being taken down to the ice by Carkner, Boogaard later developed headaches and other concussion-related symptoms that have not entirely dissipated.
	 
Boogaard has been seen at the Garden and at the practice facility, but has directed questions about his condition to management.
	 
"We're trying to stimulate him and trying to get him moving around," Tortorella said. "But he still doesn't feel well."