I tried, honestly I did. I tried to watch some of the All-Star Game last night, but I just couldn't get through more than five minutes. All it did was remind me that while opening up the game is a good thing, this is a sport that is not just about scoring. Watching these supremely talented hockey players exchange odd-man rush after odd-man rush just made me wish Scott Stevens was playing so he could come across the ice and feed one of them a helping of shoulder pad.

This game is about speed and physicality. It is about hits and defense, as much as it is about puck control. And yes, every now and then it is about fighting and bloodlust. Sorry, I can't help it, that was the hockey I grew up watching and playing, and that is the hockey I want to continue to see today. I don't want to see bigger nets and other gimmicks. I certainly don't want to see 12-9 games.

The Rodent is right on the money when he complains about those cameras Versus tried to use. They should just stick with the wide shots.

By the way, I actually LIKED the new uniforms. I don't think they are such a dramatic change as to upset traditionalists. Just so long as they don't go to crazy, radical new designs, there shouldn't be a problem. The players like them, and as long as the Rangers stick with the simple red, white, and blue, fans will like them just fine.

The news on the Rangers focuses on the Kasparaitis situation and the potential call-ups. Right now, the only name that seems to be making its way through the rumor mill is defenseman Dan Girardi. The Blueshirts are expected to practice later today, so the beat writers will get a better idea of what the team will look like this Saturday.

Larry Brooks takes a little shot at how the Rangers handled this with respect to Darius.

John Dellapina writes a confusing article today. First of all, he says that Kasparaitis is going to try and get in shape and that the Rangers may recall him at some later date. That would turn out to be a problem, because if he were claimed on re-entry waivers, the team would be take a cap hit for almost $2 million of next year's salary, as opposed to buying him out over the summer where they would only take a $500,000 hit for each of the next two seasons. Secondly, John says that Girardi would be subject to re-entry waivers, which is not accurate. (JD does correct himself on his blog.)

John has this comment from Kaspar as well: "[Renney] told me they want to make a push for the playoffs and they had to get the right people in the lineup. And he told me they're going to look at some young guys -- I don't know how having young guys in the lineup is going to help make the playoffs."

Hey Darius, give me a call, and I'll explain it to you. (Let me just pull up the Rangers postseason record over the last nine years.)

Sam Weinman of the Journal News: Since he was placed on waivers yesterday, Kasparaitis could be claimed by another team before clearing at mid-day today. But acknowledging his hefty salary, even he said that was unlikely. More likely, he will return to Hartford, and the Rangers will call up a younger defensemen such as 22-year-old Daniel Girardi in his place. The team returns from the All-Star break for a practice at 5 p.m. today.

Joe Mac at NY SportsDay: With the team on the outside looking in for the playoff picture, the New York Rangers decided to make a tough decision yesterday by waiving defenseman Darius Kasparaitis, which will probably end his tenure on Broadway.

So we'll wait until 5:00 pm to see what, if anything, is going on.

HDH

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