As last year ended for the Rangers, it was thought star winger Marian Gaborik might be in danger of missing the opening of the 2012-13 season.
But considering that opening was delayed almost four months due to Owners’ Lockout III, Gaborik was afforded more time to recover from his shoulder surgery and is expected in New York tomorrow.
“Gabby’s fine,” Rangers coach John Tortorella said yesterday, one day after the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association agreed in principle to a new collective bargaining agreement. “He’s been fine for a while.”
The 30-year-old Slovakian was injured during Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs against the Senators, and continued to play through the pain up until the Rangers lost in six games to the Devils in the conference finals. Although Gaborik led the team in the regular season with 41 goals, he managed just five goals in 20 playoff games.
“My shot wasn’t there, obviously,” Gaborik said after the season, “but I don’t want to make excuses.”
Gaborik had surgery in early June to repair the torn labrum in his right shoulder, and he was expected to miss five-to-six months.
* Defenseman Michael Del Zotto skated at the team’s Westchester training facility yesterday, but is still a restricted free agent without a contract.
“My agency and [general manager Glen Sather] and the staff here are talking,” Del Zotto said. “They’re trying to get a fair deal for both sides.”
Del Zotto had an up-and-down year in his third season, at times looking like the productive offensive defenseman he seemed to be when drafted in the first round in 2008, while at others looking like a liability in his own zone.
The lockout and the lowered salary cap for the 2013-14 season will probably take some money from the 22-year-old Del Zotto’s wallet.
“Hopefully, it gets done sooner rather than later,” Del Zotto said.
* Rick Nash hurt his shoulder while playing in the Swiss league during the lockout, but said he was entirely healthy.
When asked if there were any lingering effects from the injury, Nash said, “No, no. Nothing.”
Playing in a late September game for HC Davos, the same team he played for during the 2004-05 lockout, Nash suffered tje injury when he was checked into the boards. He had an MRI that came back negative, and it was believed to be nothing more than a bone bruise.