Lightning/NHL

Jagr sits out of two scrimmages

By TIMES WIRES
Published September 16, 2006

GREENBURGH, N.Y. - The closest Jaromir Jagr got to playing with the New York Rangers on Friday came when Darius Kasparaitis hit the ice with the Czech forward's No. 68 taped to his back.

Jagr started training camp the way he ended last season, watching his teammates in action without him.

Four months after surgery on his dislocated left shoulder, Jagr practiced Friday morning but sat out two scrimmages as camps opened around the league.

"The coaches and doctors want to make sure I don't get hit," said Jagr, a runnerup last season for league MVP. "They don't want me to play the scrimmage. ... They just want me to get my shoulder stronger. They don't want to take any chances."

Late in the series-opening 6-1 loss to New Jersey in the playoffs, Jagr swiped his left arm in an attempt to hit Devils forward Scott Gomez. The pain was so great that Jagr, who set Rangers records with 54 goals and 123 points, sat out Game 2.

It was the only game Jagr missed all season.

He forced his way back into the lineup for Game 3, but was nowhere near the force that led the Rangers to the postseason. Then 53 seconds into the fourth and final game of New Jersey's series sweep, Jagr was felled by a check from defenseman Brad Lukowich.

The 34-year-old right wing had surgery nine days later and was expected to be ready to go Friday. But the Rangers are taking a very cautious approach.

Coach Tom Renney said he would take into account Jagr's assessment of his recovery in deciding when he would let him back into game action. But the star forward doesn't have the final say.

Jagr won't take part in any scrimmages during camp, and Renney indicated that Jagr was doubtful to play in preseason games.

CHAMP WANTS ANOTHER: Defending champion Carolina opened preseason camp, and Rod Brind'Amour said the focus is no longer on that first title, but becoming the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup champ since the Detroit Red Wings won it in 1997 and '98.

Carolina's playoff run had an unwanted side effect - a shorter offseason. That lack of recovery time partly was blamed for injuries to some key players.

Forward Cory Stillman, a former Lightning player, could miss up to 40 games after having surgery on his right shoulder. Defenseman Frantisek Kaberle is out for at least four months after also having shoulder surgery.

Also, fellow defenseman Bret Hedican had hip and hand surgeries and isn't sure whether he will be ready for the Oct. 4 opener.

AVALANCHE: Forward Steve Konowalchuk will miss practice time as he goes for medical tests next week. During pretraining camp exams Thursday, a heart abnormality was detected.

MAPLE LEAFS: Former team captain Doug Gilmour was hired to become player personnel adviser to general manager John Ferguson. Gilmour twice played for the Maple Leafs and retired as a member of the team after suffering a serious knee injury in 2003.

[Last modified September 16, 2006, 02:18:03]