Buffalo vs. Rangers, Oct. 9, has meaning for Kennedy

               If he's on the opening night roster, Buffalo native Tim Kennedy will be facing the team that lost in arbitration, waived him and then bought him out in July. Asked if that matchup gave him any extra juice, the 24-year-old said:

              "After playing in the league last year, once you're in the league, you don't ever want to be out of it, because it's such a great experience and you're in a league that you've wanted to be in since you were 4 or 5.... The first game we play is against the Sabres, so that adds something to it. It's up there, and I'd be a liar if I said no. Yes, it does add something."

              Kennedy, who dressed for an on-ice workout with his new teammates for the first time today, described coach John Tortorella as "a proven winner" and was aware of the rigors of camp.  He can skate and shoot, but there's a overflow of smallish third and fourth liners and reserves on the Blueshirts.  He'll need to have a good camp, an observation I've made for about eight guys so far....

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              One more group skate tomorrow, anmd then three days off for the Rangers. Camp officially opens on the 17th with medicals, etc...

               FYI, as tweeted, I briefly glimpsed Tortorella walking through the players weight room, which is off limits to the media. I waved. He didn't. Maybe he didn't know it was me in my Samuel Adams baseball cap, shorts and a tan. Doubt it.

              He doesn't have to deal with the gaggle of writers and broadcasters who cover the team for a couple weeks and will likely take advantage of the break. Which is fine with me. We'll have plenty of questions stored up...