Rangers put Staal on injured reserve

Rangers defenseman Marc Staal with goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. (Dec. 2,... — Rangers defenseman Marc Staal with goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. (Dec. 2, 2010) Credit: Christopher Pasatieri

By STEVE ZIPAYsteve.zipay@newsday.comOctober 5, 2011

As the Rangers set their 23-man roster for the season opener Friday in Stockholm, Marc Staal was placed on injured reserve, rookie defenseman Tim Erixon was recalled from Connecticut to make his NHL debut, and the banished Sean Avery went unclaimed in waivers and was assigned to the AHL.

Staal, who has been suffering from intermittent headaches stemming from a concussion on Feb. 22 against the Carolina Hurricanes, is out indefinitely, but under terms of injured reserve could be activated in seven days. The All-Star defenseman has been seeing doctors in New York and working out with the Connecticut Whale.

With Erixon, 20, who flew to Sweden yesterday, the Rangers are carrying eight defensemen, 13 forwards and two goaltenders on the active roster. Scott Stajcer is in Europe on standby as an emergency goalie.

Erixon, the son of former Ranger Jan Erixon, joins defenseman Stu Bickel, 25, as the rookies on the roster. Brendan Bell, 28, a former Maple Leaf who played in Switzerland last season, also made the cut, at least for the moment, leaving about $427,000 under the salary cap.

Avery's $1.93-million cap hit is off the books, and his agent is hoping to find him a spot on a European team rather than in the minors. This is the final year of his contract.

Gone from last October's opening night roster are five forwards (Avery, Alex Frolov, Derek Boogaard, Tim Kennedy, Todd White) and two defensemen (Michal Rozsival, Matt Gilroy). Chris Drury and Vinny Prospal were on injured reserve then. Mats Zuccarello, Wojtek Wolski, Brad Richards and Mike Rupp are the additions up front, as well as Ryan McDonagh on defense.

Coach John Tortorella has said that the club is hoping to add an experienced defenseman, either via trade, waiver or free-agent signing, perhaps by next week, so moves would have to be made to create space. Erixon's cap hit is $1.75 million, Bickel's $600,000 and Bell's $525,000.

One switch that has been made: Brandon Dubinsky will open the season as the left wing on the No. 1 line with Richards and Marian Gaborik. Ruslan Fedotenko will start in Dubinsky's place with Artem Anisimov and Ryan Callahan.