BIG OPPORTUNITY:The Rangers are hoping Wojtek Wolski will show he has what it takes to earn the left wing spot on the top line with Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik. (AP)
So here are the most significant and immediate personnel questions confronting the 2011-12 Rangers as they open training camp today:
1. Can Wojtek Wolski, who almost certainly will be given the first shot at earning the left wing spot on the top line with Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik, show enough to keep it or will coach John Tortorella instead construct a power unit featuring Brandon Dubinsky on that flank?
2. Will sophomore defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Michael Sauer (who has a right knee issue) build off their impressive rookie seasons or will they hit the speed bumps that derailed Michael Del Zotto last season?
3. If 20-year-old Tim Erixon plays well enough to make the squad in his first year in North America, and that is the hope, would there also be room for Del Zotto, who at 21 is coming off a lost season? In other words, would the Rangers, green enough on the blue line, truly be willing to go with that combination as the third pair?
4. Knowing the history, is there a realistic opportunity for Sean Avery to earn a significant role on the club, and if not, well, then what?
5. Will any of the talented young forwards knocking on the door — most prominently including Carl Hagelin, Christian Thomas and Ryan Bourque — show enough to claim the top nine spot that’s probably going to be required to start the season with the Blueshirts rather than in the AHL?
6. Is Mats Zuccarello more suited to the NHL grind than he was a year ago?
Listen, who knows? There are always injuries, there are always surprises and there are usually disappointments. So we’ll see.
But the alignment up front entering camp seems rather obvious: Wolski-Richards-Gaborik; Dubinsky-Artem Anisimov-Ryan Callahan; Ruslan Fedotenko-Derek Stepan-Zuccarello (his spot to lose); Michael Rupp-Brian Boyle-Brandon Prust.
And on defense, it’s fairly concrete as well: Marc Staal-Dan Girardi; McDonagh-Sauer (if healthy); a third pair with Erixon, Steve Eminger, Del Zotto and Pavel Valentenko in the mix. It would, however, be no surprise if the Blueshirts remain on the lookout for veteran assistance.
The goaltending tandem is etched in stone: Henrik Lundqvist backed up by Marty Biron.
The Rangers should be better. Richards should be a critical component in their improvement. But while captain Callahan told The Post on Monday he expects the Blueshirts “to be contenders and make a push for the Stanley Cup,” his coach does not want to put the end before the means.
“I expect us to take the next step in the process,” Tortorella said. “I don’t want to talk about results. I want us to focus on what we need to do and how we have to play in order to get those results.
“We’ve kept our core here, we added the top free agent on the market in Richie in order to fill our hole at center and increase our level of talent, we signed Michael Rupp who is going to be a major factor for us moving up and down the lineup and our kids have an additional year of experience.
“I think we’re where we want to be as an organization,” the coach said. “But I’m not going into this putting pressure on the team by stating that we’re Cup contenders.
“We’re in the next step. But I do feel good about where we are; I don’t want to leave any question about that.”
There are, after all, other questions to be answered.
larry.brooks
@nypost.com