Richards ready for busy training camp

Brad Richards understands The John Tortorella Training Camp Experience.

"Hopefully I can get through it without a heart attack," Richards said with a grin. "I wanted so bad to get back to it."

Richards, the 31-year-old center who weighed dazzling free-agent offers before agreeing to a nine-year, $60-million contract with the Rangers in July, grinded through Tortorella-designed camps in Tampa, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2004. He knows what to expect.

But this year's camp, which begins Friday, will have an international flavor -- and be challenging. In five days, the Rangers play the first of three U.S. preseason games, against the Devils in Albany, and then five days later, board a plane for a 12-day stay in Europe that includes four preseason games in four countries before opening the season in Stockholm against the Kings Oct. 7

"It's probably not ideal for everybody else, but for me, and probably for Michael Rupp [another free-agent signee], it'll be a good chance to get to know everybody when we're on the road," said Richards, whose primary mission is to develop some on-ice chemistry with sniper Marian Gaborik.

Tortorella is stoic about the travel and the short return to New York after Stockholm before an eight-day trip to Western Canada. "You can't complain, you can't get flustered," he said. "Our camp's going to be the same. We're just going to have to do a little traveling, go overseas and the time change. Let's just go about our business day-to-day."

Decisions have to be made earlier. The initial group of 61 attendees is expected to be halved by Sept. 26, when the Rangers leave for Europe. The front office hopes to be down to 23 sometime after their game against Frolunda, in Gothenburg, Sweden, Sept. 30.

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"There's some great competition for positions; you've got to keep on infusing some youth," Tortorella said.

Tim Erixon, 20, the son of former Ranger Jan Erixon who was outstanding in this week's prospects tournament, and Michael Del Zotto, who had a sophomore setback last year, are the front-runners for two blue-line openings. Speedy forward Carl Hagelin, out of the University of Michigan, and Ryan Bourque, who scored four goals in four games in Traverse City, will need impressive camps to crack the roster.

The Rangers are about $1.3 million under the salary cap, but there's also this complication: Del Zotto can play only 33 more NHL games before he is subject to waivers if assigned to the AHL; forward Mats Zuccarello can play only 18 games.

THREE QUESTIONS FOR THE RANGERS

Who emerges on defense?
Five of seven spots appear set: Mark Staal, Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh, Steve Eminger and Michael Sauer, although Sauer’s sore right knee might limit him in camp. Tim Erixon, 20, the poised youngster obtained from Calgary who was outstanding in the Traverse City Tournament this week, and Michael Del Zotto seem to be the front-runners. AHLer Pavel Valentenko is on the radar, as is Brendan Bell, 28, who played last season in the Swiss A-league.

Who plays left wing on the No. 1 line with Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik?
Brandon Dubinsky, streaky Wojtek Wolski, sophomore Derek Stepan and vets Ruslan Fedotenko and Sean Avery will likely get a look. Dubinsky may be the best-fit power forward, but coach John Tortorella could be reluctant to split up the productive trio of Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov and captain Ryan Callahan.

Which rookie forwards have a chance to stick?
With at least 10 spots locked in, LW Carl Hagelin and C Ryan Bourque will need excellent camps to crack the roster. They may have to dislodge two of either Wolski, Erik Christensen, Mats Zuccarello or Avery, all in the final year of their contracts. Otherwise, the speedy Hagelin and savvy Bourque are potential call-ups from the AHL.