GREENBURGH, NY - Tom Renney used the All-Star break to scout for new talent. Going to Hartford, he looked at what players could be NHL ready.

In the end, he only picked defenseman Dan Girardi.

“We looked at a number of people," Renney said. "We always keep an eye on that, what's been going on down there. I went down there to be sure, to confirm in my own mind what I thought and what I had been told.

“And it was a worthwhile trip. We're content with any number of people down there -- there are some kids there in a position to play here and help us. But at this point in time the numbers don't allow that to happen. We have to make some type of provision for that to happen. Whether or not we're able to do that should we choose to, that remains to be seen.”

So there he was wearing No. 46 during the late Thursday practice, competing in skating drills with Renney and assistant coach Perry Pearn looking on to determine where he would play.

Girardi has two goals with 22 assists in 45 games at Hartford. Renney said he has a hard shot to the net and could help the Rangers on the power play.

One interesting scenario would be pairing him with young defenseman Thomas Pock, but with the tight numbers game on the Blueshirts, Pock will probably be a healthy scratch tomorrow in Philadelphia.

“I'm not sure yet," Renney said and added referring to the flu that ripped through the team a month ago, "We've got some stuff going through our team here again.”

But the two young defenseman remain a good option, so would be playing Fedor Tyutin with Girardi.

“If I can put Tommy [Pock] and Danny together, that's appealing," Renney said. "So is [Tyutin] and Danny together. So I might have to put a righty on the left side”

No matter who he plays with, Girardi is just happy to be hear, even though he will miss the American League All-Star game in Toronto with 30 family and friends making plans of making the trip up north.

“I found out today [Thursday] that I was coming up here," Girardi said. "We saw all those guys [coach Tom Renney and Assistant GM Don Maloney] on Tuesday in the stands. We were all thinking, 'What is going on?' We had a good practice that day. There was some rumors going around. I'm just real happy and excited about the shot."

And if he works out, Renney will be very thankful he made the trip to the Civic Centre.