The Extra: Top center still a need....

Brad Richards, the playmaking Stars center who scored 90 points last season and played for coach John Tortorella in Tampa, is a free agent next summer. Tortorella cannot name names (tampering) but it is clear that a No. 1 center remains on his radar.

"We had a good summer because we kept our kids, we stayed with them... the foundation of our team is our youth," Tortorella said today. "I think along the way, when it’s right, there are some positions we need to fill. We do need a top center as we go through here, and… on the back end, maybe a left-hand shot, as you go through, but to give you a timetable, it’s hard, and I don’t even think it’s right for me, that’s an organizational thing. But I like the track we’re on as a club, we continue to build and add a piece here and there."

The Stars, if they are in contention, may not want to move Richards (who has a no-trade clause) at the February trade deadline, and the Rangers would need to create cap space and give up some assets, probably a regular player, a top prospect and a draft pick. Or, they could wait and make a run next season and continue with a "center-by-committee" system, especially with Chris Drury and Vinny Prospal due back in a few weeks.

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Tortorella did not think Milan Michalek, who chased and pushed down Marian Gaborik from behind on a breakaway, was guilty of an infraction. "I thought so at first, but when I looked on tape, he didn't really shove him hard and got his stick after. I don;t think it was a penalty."...Derek Boogaard didn't play in the second period and 52 seconds in the third. "He didn't do anything wrong," said Tortorella.
"I'm not totally comfortable in those types of games. It's just such close checking. We're trying to work on his conditioning."...Henrik Lundqvist (22 saves) is 3-6-1 at home... The Rangers are 0-2 in their dark blue Heritage jerseys that commemorate the 85th anniversary of the franchise