"After 11 players were cut on Monday, the Rangers' roster now has 27 -- still four men over the maximum. Most of the remaining cuts will come from the defense, as the Rangers still have nine defensemen on the training-camp roster, and won't enter the regular season with more than seven. Of those nine defensemen, only four are locks to make the team (Michael Del Zotto, Dan Girardi, Marc Staal and Michal Rozsival). Matt Gilroy, who played with the Rangers last season, has played well in preseason and has the upper hand at the fifth spot. That leaves the remaining four -- Steve Eminger, Ryan McDonagh, Michael Sauer and Pavel Valentenko -- fighting for at most two other spots. "I've watched the last couple of games, and within the next few days here, some decisions will have to be made. They are not easy decisions because everyone's played well," said Staal, who enters his fourth season on the Rangers' blue line. Coach John Tortorella agreed with that assessment, saying that all of the hopeful defenders will be looked at, and the next few preseason games will help sort things out. "We're still evaluating, so these next few games will be interesting," he said, "and we will keep on looking at some people." Wade Redden, waived on Monday and not claimed, was sent to Hartford, making one of the defenseman positions that is up for grabs. Eminger is the only one with NHL experience, having played for five NHL teams, including Anaheim last season. He left practice yesterday so as not to re-aggravate a groin injury. McDonagh, a rookie, has played in two of the Rangers' three preseason games thus far, and has a decent chance to make the team. He has no points, but has looked solid on defense, while registering over 20 minutes of ice time per game." http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/rangers_blue_liners_battle_to_survive_ts6toQiAQ9AZdW6utTkiTO
