NHL

Rangers adding Hamrlik hurts Zuccarello’s chances

The Rangers’ waiver claim of defenseman Roman Hamrlik will make a contract offer to Mats Zuccarello more problematic.

Hamrlik represents the 49th player under contract in the organization, one under the league maximum. Adding Zuccarello, the restricted free agent whose Magnitogorsk Metallurg KHL team was eliminated from the the playoffs on Tuesday, would severely restrict the Rangers’ options approaching the April 3 trade deadline.

General manager Glen Sather told The Post last week that he would reach out to Zuccarello at the conclusion of his season, but the club has not presented the winger with a formal offer despite having had informal discussions on the matter with agent Don Meehan.

Zuccarello is under a two-year contract that contains an NHL out clause after this season. The Blueshirts would therefore have to extend the 25-year-old a one-way offer through at least next season in order to induce him to leave Russia.

The Rangers currently have approximately $2.75 million of available cap space that equates to approximately $5.96 million of space at the deadline. The club could free an additional $1.25 million by placing concussed defenseman Michael Sauer on long-term injured reserve.

* Brad Richards, who missed Tuesday’s game against the Flyers in the aftermath of going into the boards head-first on a cross-check from Buffalo’s Patrick Kaleta on Sunday, is questionable for tonight’s match against the Islanders at the Coliseum. Richards, cited as “banged up” by coach John Tortorella, did not skate yesterday. The Blueshirts had the day off.