Michael Del Zotto News

With the 2012 NHL Entry Draft rapidly approaching, the New York Rangers ' brass have a lot of decisions to make.

The National Hockey League is reporting that New York Rangers star Marian Gaborik is set to undergo rotator cuff surgery next week.

For the New York Rangers, this off season will be one of cross checking. A No, not the kind that will find you in the penalty box , but comparing what players have done this season compared to what they are making/worth as contract expire in 31 days.

Before we get into this article, I just want to begin by saying this: What happened to Michael Sauer is a tragedy, and we wish him the quickest recovery possible.

At the NHL General Manager's meeting Wednesday afternoon, Rangers GM Glen Sather perhaps summed up the feelings of his fan base better than anyone.

The New York Rangers ended this season a lot better than many expected, but they also ended it more abruptly than they would have liked to.

New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella can say he is satisfied with his team's rapid progress from eight seed in last year's playoffs to top seed this year, but that will ring hollow with the team's Cup-starved fan base.

Monday was breakup day for the New York Rangers , and with it came a sense of finality for this 2012 season.

May 25, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; The New York Rangers celebrate a goal by New York Rangers left wing Ruslan Fedotenko during the second period in game six of the 2012 Eastern Conference finals at the Prudential Center.

Somewhat lost in the shuffle of the New York Rangers ' 2012 season was the potential availability of Anaheim Ducks defensive prospect Justin Schultz.

The New York Rangers had the best record in the Eastern Conferenc e and reached the conference finals on the strength of a tough defense, great goaltending and a relentlessly rugged style.

"If you're content that's when you go by the wayside. We have to continue to improve as an organization," he told reporters .

Chris Kreider, the newest member of the New York Rangers , temporarily had it going against Martin Brodeur, the longest-tenured New Jersey Devil.

The Rangers appear to have a considerable amount of cap space with which to maneuver in reconstructing for next year, but with the labor agreement set to expire on Sept.

Not scoring the "big goal," in coach John Tortorella's words, doomed the Rangers in their series loss to the Devils, so they likely will be interested in the Devils LW Zach Parise, an unrestricted free agent, and Blue Jackets LW Rick Nash and Ducks LW Bobby Ryan if they are on the trade market.

The disappointing overtime loss in Game 6 to the New Jersey Devils prematurely started the Rangers ' offseason.

Adam Henrique's overtime goal that gave the New Jersey Devils the Eastern Conference title was the rookie's fourth point in five games against the top-seeded New York Rangers .

Ryan Callahan , Michael Del Zotto , Martin Brodeur , Ruslan Fedotenko , New York Rangers , New Jersey Devils , leaving the score tied at 2-2 entering the third period of game six of their series.

Game 6 between the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers is underway from the Prudential Center in Newark.

MUIR: Alright, AD. Time for you to wipe off the Vinnie Vincent makeup and turn down the volume on your Creatures of the Night eight-track. Let's talk some conference finals stick and puck.