Richards, Rupp to make Rangers debuts

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Center Brad Richards and winger Mike Rupp, the two free-agent forwards acquired in the off-season, will make their Rangers debuts Friday night against the Devils in a preseason game in Newark.

Richards, who signed a nine-year, $60-million contract in July, had been resting a sore groin for two days. He practiced Thursday on the No. 1 line with Marian Gaborik and Wojtek Wolski and skated afterward in a scrimmage with members of the NYPD and FDNY hockey teams at the MSG Training Center. "Brad's fine," coach John Tortorella said. "He'll play."

Rupp is the 6-5 former Devil and Penguin who was signed to a three-year contract in July. "He scored so many freakin' goals against us, we focused on him," Tortorella said. "We wanted to get people to help Pruster [Brandon Prust] with bigger guys if it comes to that. He adds size and some veteran mentoring. We heard he was a really good teammate. And I don't think he's just a fourth- line guy."

Staal gets looked at

All-Star defenseman Marc Staal, who has been experiencing headaches after workouts since mid-summer as a result of a high hit delivered by his brother Eric of the Hurricanes on Feb. 22, had a scheduled late-afternoon appointment with a specialist.

The team said Staal did not skate because the appointment had been previously scheduled, and not because of a setback. Staal, 24, has been cleared for contact, although he hasn't scrimmaged and isn't scheduled to play in Friday night's preseason game or Monday's game against the Flyers in Philadelphia as a precaution.

Who's in, outForwards Carl Hagelin and Dale Weise and defensemen Tim Erixon, Brendan Bell and Michael Del Zotto, all vying for a job when the final cuts are made Oct. 5, will play. Sean Avery and Eric Christensen, vets on the bubble, are not on Friday's roster after playing Wednesday.

Martin Biron and Chad Johnson will split the duties in goal. On defense, Mike Sauer, Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko will see their first preseason action. Among the other forwards dressing who didn't play in Albany: Brian Boyle, Ryan Callahan, Ruslan Fedotenko, Kris Newbury, Derek Stepan and Mats Zuccarello.

Players added for EuropeThe Rangers have expanded their roster for a series of preseason games in Europe by two players, to 33. Tortorella said he added a forward who "earned a spot" -- based on his play in the 2-1 overtime loss to the Devils in Albany on Wednesday night -- to bring the number to 19. He did not disclose the player, although it is believed to be John Mitchell, 26, who centered what Tortorella called the "most effective line" in the game, flanked by 18-year-old J.T. Miller, the team's No. 1 selection in the June draft, and Avery. Mitchell, a former Maple Leaf who was injured last season, was said to be the top forward for the AHL Whale when he returned, going 7-5-12 in 14 games.

Show of respect

The NYPD/FDNY pickup game was requested by Tortorella and arranged by the Garden's staff. Before the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the team toured firehouses and engine companies that had lost men in the attack.

"It's just a way of us showing respect to them for what they do for us," Tortorella said. "The game itself was great, but just to watch them with the players afterward, taking pictures, Pruster showing them how to fight. I was so glad it worked out that way. Look at our guys, look how much fun they had. I'm not sure who had more fun -- our guys, the policemen or the firemen."