Rangers keep ailing Staal off ice
Marc Staal #18 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammates on the bench. (April 17, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
In a worrisome sign for the Rangers, All-Star defenseman Marc Staal was kept off the ice Monday and sent home because "he just didn't feel well," coach John Tortorella said. Staal had headaches this summer and earlier in camp stemming from a concussion he suffered Feb. 22.
The setback came a day after Tortorella said he was encouraged that Staal had been symptom-free for a few days. He passed a baseline neurological test Friday and was cleared for contact, but he also didn't scrimmage Sunday.
"We talked to the trainers and figured we'd just back off. This is a fluid situation," said Tortorella, who declined to specify whether Staal's headaches had returned. The coach said, however, that the club was looking actively for defensive help, with only 21/2 weeks remaining before the regular- season opens against the Kings Oct. 7 in Stockholm.
"We're going to err on the side of caution,'' Tortorella said. "We have time and I'm hoping we can get him in some exhibition games."
Staal, 24, sat out three games last February after being checked by his brother Eric of the Hurricanes. Besides the concussion, the hit also injured Marc Staal's left knee. He sat out two more games in March before playing the rest of the season. He called to report headaches during the summer and saw doctors, the Rangers said.
Replacing the 6-4 defenseman, who averaged 25:44 of ice time per game last season, fourth highest in the league, wouldn't be easy, even in the short term. The Rangers have Staal's defensive partner, Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh, Steve Eminger and Michael Sauer returning from last season. Journeyman Brendan Bell and youngsters such as Michael Del Zotto, Tim Erixon and Pavel Valentenko also are competing for a job, but the search is on.
"Even prior to this with Marc, the ups and downs, we were looking," Tortorella said. "There's some people out there. You're always looking to try to improve your team. Not so much trading, but if something leaks out of another team that our people like, you have to take a look at that."
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