Blue Notes

The Rangers were looking for offense last March when they acquired defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh from the Anaheim Ducks. Today, concerned about his defensive liabilities and lack of offense, the 34-year-old former All-Star was waived and Thomas Pock summoned from Hartford.

We can only assume that Pock, who made the club out of camp and played five games, then was scratched for 15 games before being dressed as an emergency forward for on Nov. 19 against Tampa, will play regularly. Pock, 25 had been sent down on Dec. 11.

Ozolinsh, who had no goals and three assists and was a minus-8 in 21 games this season, is in the final year of a contract worth $2.75 million. If he clears waivers in 48 hours, he will be assigned to the Wolf Pack and about $1.8 million of his prorated salary will be removed from the Rangers' salary cap.

It was unclear whether Ozolinsh, who had offseason knee surgery and pled guilty in June in White Plains for driving while impaired in May, would report or retire. His agent hasn't responded to a phone message left at his office.

If Ozolinsh is recalled by the Rangers, he would have to clear again and if another team claims him, they would divide the remaining salary. Either way, it appears Ozo's tenure as a Ranger is over.

The move comes on the day of the league's eight-day holiday roster freeze, leading to speculation that another transaction might be imminent. Or the Rangers simply felt that they'd rather have Pock available rather than Ozo for the next week.

If you're a regular reader of this space, I don't need to repeat that Pock should never had been sent down and allowed to rust. Renney's explanation: He wanted to assess the veterans. OK, assessment over.

But to some extent, Pock's return was necessary because the Rangers' defense is less than healthy, with Aaron Ward nursing a fracture in his foot, Darius Kasparaitis and others with lingering flu symptoms and Marek Malik suffering a groin strain last night in a 6-1 loss to the Devils.