Setback: Marc Staal, 'just didn't feel good' held off ice

Put the worry hats on....this is going to be a story for the next month or more...

Some concussion-related symptoms returned today for All-Star defenseman Marc Staal, Rangers coach John Tortorella, and he was held out of practice and scrimmages today. "He just doesn't feel well," Tortorella said. "It's a fluid situation."

The news came a day after Tortorella said he was encouraged that Staal, who sustained a concussion on Feb. 22 from a high check from his brother Erik, of the Hurricanes, was improving from a series of headaches this summer and when he arrived in camp. He passed a baseline neurological test last Firday and was cleared for contact.

"We're going to err on the side of caution," Tortorella said, and again said that the Rangers continued to look for defensive help, and that was the case even before Staal's issues. There are just two and ahalf weeks before the season opener in Stockholm.

"We'll see how he feels tomorrow," said Tortorella, who added that Staal would not to play in any pre-season game to play in the opener Oct. 7 against the Kings.  "It depends on how he feels and what the doctors say," he said.  

More on this and the whole defensive situation later...