With the team on the outside looking in for the playoff picture, the New York Rangers decided to make a tough decision yesterday by waiving defenseman Darius Kasparaitis, which will probably end his tenure on Broadway.

The 34 year-old defenseman had only two goals and two assists this years with a minus-1 rating in 24 games. After receiving shoulder and abdomen surgeries this past offseason, he came into camp out of shape and it looked like the game passed him by.

He was sent down to Hartford for a reconditioning stint on October 31 for two weeks and returned in better shape, but still was not the player the Rangers saw last season when he performed as one of the team leaders.

Kasparaitis does have one year for $ 3.3 million left on his contract and he will receive it as an American League player, if no one claims him and reports to Hartford.

The move frees up salary cap money for a possible move before the trading deadline on February 27 and also will allow some possible playing time to either Daniel Girardi or Ivan Baranka, if either are summoned from Hartford.

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