NHL

Rangers stand pat heading into Olympic break

PITTSBURGH—The Rangers were intact for Friday night’s 4-3 shootout victory over the Penguins that represented the club’s final game before the NHL’s quadrennial Olympic recess.

Ryan Callahan remains unsigned, unaccounted for beyond June 30, and undeniably unsure where he’ll be and to which team he’ll belong when the NHL trade deadline strikes at 3 PM on Mar. 5. The same holds true for his running buddy, Dan Girardi, the first-pair defenseman who, same as the captain, is a pending unrestricted free agent.

There were no moves across the league leading into Friday’s roster freeze. Teams interested in making deals were loathe to acquire players who, a) would toll against the cap on a daily basis during the recess; b) would be owed a paycheck during the break; and, c) would be vulnerable to injury in the Olympics if participating in The Games.

That, of course, applies to Callahan, who will be one of three Rangers to represent Team USA and one of seven Blueshirts who will be on their way to Sochi on one of three NHL charters departing Newark on Sunday.

Coach Alain Vigneault referred for the first time to the uncertainty surrounding Callahan’s and Girardi’s status when he addressed the press prior to Friday’s match.

“We’ve got certain decisions to make on people within our lineup, as everyone knows and has been talking about,” Vigneault said. “Hopefully, once that’s cleared, we’ll have our team like everyone else and we’ll strive to make that final push.”

Vigneault said that he talks with general manager Glen Sather and assistants Jeff Gorton and Jim Schoenfeld “on a daily basis” concerning personnel matters.

“We discuss where our team is and where it needs to go,” he said. “This year, obviously, with Hank’s situation and with our captain and Dan, the dynamics have been a little bit different but hopefully everything is going to work out.”

Henrik Lundqvist, in goal against the Penguins before taking the nets for Team Sweden in Sochi, entered the season on the final year of his contract. His status became a singular issue around the team through November before the goaltender signed his seven-year, $59.5 Million extension on Dec. 4.

Callahan seems to be at an impasse regarding an extension. Girardi appears to be closer to striking a deal, but negotiations have not progressed over the last week.

It is unusual for players this close to free agency to sign extensions unless they get what they believe the market will bear. There is no indication at this point that either is amenable to leaving money on the table in order to remain with the Rangers.

“I expect our guys to be professional. This is part of today’s NHL,” the coach said. “Our guys have all been extremely professional the way they’ve handled the situation. I expect them to come to the rink, word hard and execute and that’s what they’ve done.”