North Jersey Media Group: Feds frustrated

Ruslan Fedotenko (appendectomy) was in full gear for the morning skate but did not participate in contact drills. Out since separating his left shoulder Jan.19, Fedotenko said he needs to improve his conditioning before returning.

«I knew it was going to happen after two weeks of being off totally," Fedotenko said. «Still, I feel frustrated. You feel like you want to be where you left off. Right now, I’m not able to compete to my best ability.»

Neither Fedotenko nor Tortorella sounded optimistic the left wing could play against the Capitals on Friday. After that, the Rangers host the Lightning on Sunday.

NEW YORK POST: The third question arising from the match concerns the status of Ruslan Fedotenko, who returned to the lineup only to re-injure the left shoulder that was first separated on Jan. 19. Fedotenko left after being slammed to the ice by John Erskine at 6:17 of the second period.

«It could be scar tissue," Tortorella said. «We should know more [today].»

NEW YORK POST: Ruslan Fedotenko is not expected to play today after reinjuring his left shoulder Friday night. He originally separated the shoulder Jan. 19, and after getting 4:55 of ice time against the Caps, he was forced out after an awkward collision with John Erskine in the second period. Tortorella said Fedotenko was day-to-day and there was no structural damage in the shoulder, just that it was «tight.»

Besides making the highly-anticipated signing of Mike Rupp, the New York Rangers also re-signed one of coach John Tortorella's «guys» in Ruslan Fedotenko.

Last season, Fedotenko entered training camp on a tryout basis, quickly impressed Tortorella and the coaching staff to earn a spot on the team, and slowly began to morph into a guy in which all the young players could look up to —- and one who knew Tortorella's system back when he was in Tampa Bay. Even though he only had 10 goals and 15 assists in 66 games this season, he was rewarded with a one-year, $1.4 million deal (he earned $1 million last season) for the the part of play that doesn't really end up in the stat books. The 32-year-old also played extremely well down the stretch, especially when Ryan Callahan went down. His hard work along the boards, shot-blocking and generally a «stiff» player to match-up against were aspects of his game that were never lacking. Most of all, he was a player Tortorella could trust. Bergen Record's Andrew Gross said that the Rangers were 39-23-4 in games that Fedotenko was in the lineup for. That says enough.
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Valdts: Только вот Поникаровскому больше предложили...за что...

New York Times: Brad Richards will wear No. 19, Ruslan Fedotenko’s number. Fedotenko said he would take No. 26, Erik Christensen’s number. According to Fedotenko, Christensen “said he didn’t really care.” Did Fedotenko charge Richards anything for giving up No. 19, as baseball and football players sometimes do? “What do you mean?” Fedotenko said. “We won the Cup together, and he was 19. He really wanted it. We have good guys in the locker room — if you start bargaining and selling, what’s next? Every time I give you a pass, you’re going to give me $500 for it? Come on, it’s hockey — it’s a team sport.”

Ruslan Fedotenko did a little bit of everything, backup goalie Martin Biron made a strong first start, and the Rangers bailed themselves out of several long lapses in Monday night's 2-1 win over the Jets (2-5-1) by blocking 14 shots and scoring twice on the power play.
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- А с украинскими политиками вы не общались?

- Я встречался с Премьер-министром, который сейчас является Президентом Украины.

- Виктором Януковичем?

— Да. Тогда мы встретились у него в кабинете, общались. Он тогда мне обещал, что, если станет Президентом, он будет развивать хоккей в стране. Сейчас он — Президент, правда, я вот не знаю, или он сдержал свое обещание (смеется). Встречался и с другими политиками, с мэром Киева, в том числе.