The Rangers inquired about Chris Campoli within days after the Blackhawks walked away from the 27-year-old defenseman’s $2.5 million salary arbitration award this summer, The Post has learned, but the free agent’s agent, Rich Evans, said yesterday that the Blueshirts have not checked in recently even with doubt surrounding Marc Staal’s status and availability for the start of the season.
“We had conversations earlier on, so they certainly know he’s out there,” Evans said. “We’ve had a few teams call recently and we’ve gotten some knocks on the door, but not from the Rangers.”
Individuals with knowledge of the situation, however, have said the Rangers are keeping the door open to the possibility of re-inquiring about Campoli in the event that medical reports on Staal create a pessimistic view of the concussed alternate captain’s likelihood of being able to open the season.
Hours before the Rangers’ 4-3 preseason victory in New Jersey last night, coach John Tortorella said Staal might not accompany the team on its charter flight to Europe Monday night.
That does not mean, however, that No. 18, who met with specialists the last two days because of the intermittent headaches he still is suffering seven months after sustaining a concussion in Carolina, might not be able to join the club in Europe later in the week. That would leave about a week before the Oct. 7 opener in Stockholm.
The Rangers entered camp with two strong top defense pairs featuring the Staal-Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh-Michael Sauer combinations. Steve Eminger was penciled in as part of a third pair, likely with either Michael Del Zotto or 20-year-old rookie pro Tim Erixon.
Del Zotto and Erixon were paired last night, with the left-handed Erixon skating on the right side, as he did for Team Sweden throughout this spring’s World Championship tournament. Each had his moments — good and bad. That is to be expected.
If Staal is unavailable for any meaningful length of time — and who can know, now or during the season? — the lack of dependable depth on defense is likely to become a significant issue.
McDonagh or Sauer would have to move up with Girardi and help assume Staal’s massive ice time (25:44 last year) as a matchup first-pair D while a third-pair component would have to be able to handle more responsibility on the second pair. As such, the third pair itself isn’t really the concern.
This is where Campoli, a puck-mover who was a regular down the stretch and in the playoffs for the Blackhawks last season after he was acquired from Ottawa (19:08 in 19 regular-season games) at the deadline, could enter the picture.
“Chris is in a situation where he’s looking for a spot where he can grow with an organization, unlike a number of veterans who are on the market,” Evans said. “I don’t know if there’s a perception out there that he’s too expensive because of the $2.5 million, but that was just a salary arbitration number.
“We haven’t really gotten into a price point [discussion] with anybody.”
There’s little doubt that Campoli is the most talented player available. If he hasn’t priced himself out, it’s kind of a mystery why he remains on the market, though Evans suggested it’s a matter of timing.
“The difference is that Chris didn’t become available until July 22, while the other guys became free agents on July 1,” Evans said. “Teams did just about all their business in those three weeks.
“Chris is in a distinctive situation.”
And it’s one the Rangers are expected to investigate.