Marty Biron is expected to rejoin the Rangers on Friday for the club’s first day of training camp on-ice drills after having been absent the previous two days due a personal issue, but there is a question whether he is competing with Johan Hedberg for the role as Henrik Lundqvist’s backup.
Biron, who started just five times last year over the truncated 48-game schedule, is entering the final season of a contract that carries a relatively pricey cap hit of $1.3 million. Hedberg is at camp under a Professional Try Out agreement after having been bought out in July by the Devils in the wake of the club’s trade for Cory Schneider.
It would benefit the cap-stressed Rangers to spend less on the backup goaltender, but it’s not so simple. For even presuming that Hedberg, a) outplays Biron in camp; and, b) is willing to sign a one-year deal for significantly less than Biron is set to earn, the Rangers would, c) have to be able to trade Biron in order to avoid the $375,000 cap hit he would carry if waived through to the AHL Wolf Pack.
Hedberg, who is regarded as one of the most diligent workers in the NHL, said after Wednesday’s on-ice workout that he has no definitive expectations of what this tryout will yield.
“I’m just going to try and make the most of it,” said Hedberg, a 12-year NHL veteran who turned 40 in May. “I thought this was a great opportunity I wanted to explore, but I have no idea [what might happen].
“I hope I can do what I know I can do. It doesn’t matter whether I’m on a three-year contract or a tryout, I would still have to do my best,” he said. “I want to have a good camp and see where it takes me.”
Hedberg partnered for three years with Martin Brodeur. He was set to return for his fourth year in New Jersey until general manager Lou Lamoriello pulled off his stunning deal for Schneider at the Entry Draft — with Hedberg in attendance, watching (and listening) from the stands at the Rock in Newark.
“Quite frankly, if I were Lou, I would have done that deal,” Hedberg said. “It was great for the team, if not for myself.
“It was shocking. I spoke to Lou the next morning and he explained the [amnesty buyout] situation ahead of me.”
Now, there’s a different situation not quite so easily explained.
Lundqvist on Thursday reiterated he would consider suspending contract talks at the start of the season if he finds them a distraction, as he first told The Post. Little progress seems to have been made toward an extension for the King, who is eligible to hit the open market following this season.
Marc Staal expressed confidence in his ability to regain his full form in the wake of the serious right eye injury he sustained March 5 that ruined his season.
“I don’t feel I’m going to breeze through it without any bumps, but I’m going to work to get back to a high level,” he said. “My perception of what I see on the ice is way better than it was when I was trying to come back in the playoffs; everything is where it’s supposed to be.
“I skated a lot over the summer starting in early July. I wanted to train my brain as much as I could to get back to normal,” said the defenseman, who will wear a tinted visor. “Training camp is going to be important for me, not only to get physically ready but mentally on the ice.
“I want to get up to the speed of the exhibition games and bring it into the season.”
Brad Richards, already weary of addressing last season’s debacle and, in fact, advised by coach Alain Vigneault to leave the past in the past, said, “I lost myself a little bit last year and lost the confidence of the coach, which doesn’t help when you’re trying to get it back and get out of something.
“I know I can play the game. I wanted to be here, I’m happy to still be here, grateful, and thrilled. I did not want to end my New York Ranger tenure as that,” he said. “Hopefully I can start fresh and get back on track.”
Marek Hrivik was the only non-roster player to skate in the group with the varsity forwards. … J.T. Miller, who was also in that group, left the ice early after “tweaking his hamstring,” according to Vigneault. Miller, who did not participate in any of the club’s pre-camp informal scrimmages, is expected to be available Friday.