Eric Staal remained on the practice rink in Greenburgh on Tuesday for at least 20 minutes after the Rangers’ training session formally ended. The big trade-deadline acquisition first did some extra work with Chris Kreider, practicing board play, then continued to grind by himself, pucks littering the ice around him.
Marc’s older brother was brought to New York to give the Rangers (41-24-8, 90 points) “another kick at the can,” as Alain Vigneault has put it. The trade for the four-time All-Star and Stanley Cup winner was made with designs on another run at the Stanley Cup after the Blueshirts fell in the Cup Final to the Kings two seasons ago and dropped last year’s conference final to the Lightning in seven games.