NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, in a Q & A with reporters in Dallas yesterday, said a decision should be made by mid-July. I'm hearing Yankee Stadium, Soldier Field and Fenway remain the front-runners. Here's the transcript.

Q. What is the likelihood we'll see another outdoor game next season? Is Yankee Stadium a possibility as a venue?

BETTMAN: "Funny you should ask. We are in the midst of doing our homework and trying to make some plans to do another outdoor game. We think the game in Buffalo, the Winter Classic on January 1st last, was a great event for our game and for our fans. It made us the center of sports focus on a day which had traditionally been devoted to college football. So we very much want to do it again. We want to keep it special. We don't want to overdo it.

We have no shortage of interested cities and teams. And we're exploring them. One of the possibilities is Yankee Stadium. But there are a variety of issues with respect to all of the possibilities. We have to see which can be resolved satisfactorily.

There is some construction going on, on and about the Yankee Stadium area, the old stadium area, which may impact us. There are some winterization issues, because it is an older stadium. As I sit here today, I don't know whether or not they can be resolved. We don't have a deal yet to go anywhere, but we're in discussions with a variety of places, some that have been named, I'm not breaking any news here, Chicago, Boston, Colorado, Denver, Pennsylvania.

Actually got a letter from the Governor suggesting, based on this incredible -- I think Governor Rendell said in his letter to me as great a sportsfan as he is, he's never seen the intensity of a rivalry as he's seeing now between the Flyers and the Penguins, and we should consider playing in HappyValley before a 107,000 people.

We're looking at a lot of things. I anticipate, hopefully by the time we announce the schedule in early July when we release it, historically on the day after the baseball All-Star Game, that we'll know what we're doing.

But as I sit here today, other than we're planning to try to do something, we're not done yet."

Marcus Nilson ties it with under four to play in regulation with a high glove-side wrister just seconds after goaltender Milan Hlinka tumbled backwards from a brush with a Swede skater...

.....on a pretty high backhander as Lundqvist slid out to his right; 2-1, Czech Republic with about 7 minutes to play

At the IIHF World Championships...

Elias (knee) and Rozsival playing.

Just caught the live feed at hockeywebcasts.com

I had scheduled a few days off this week, so please don't expect the usual torrent of updates.

Will give you this though: In the worlds, Brandon Dubinsky today had a hat trick, including a goal from the right circle midway through the third period, as the U.S. hammered Norway 9-1. Pat Kane was tremendous as well. The U.S. will play Finland or Canada next in the quarterfinals.

The craziest story has been the controversial Finn goal against the U.S. that went through the mesh at the side of the cage and was allowed to stand after video replay. The IIHF then fessed up to the error after the game, and in a bizarre move, fired the goal judge.

Team Canada looks very potent and should take it all. Lundqvist's Swedes beat the Czechs yesterday..

With the injuries to top defensemen Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn, it appears as if the Flyers are fried. Even if they win one of two in Philly, the Pens will likely end the ECF in five at the Igloo. I thought it would take six.

Detroit is certainly dazzling everyone. Should be a terrific finals.

On this front, Cablevision---which owns the Garden, Rangers, Knicks, Radio City, News12 and provides cable television, broadband and phone service to millions in the New York/New Jersey metro area---has agreed to buy Newsday. The deal is supposed to close in August.

In the past month, the mood of the people I've talked to around the newspaper is first, goodbye and good luck to the current Tribune ownership, which had sliced and diced and tightened the purse strings and didn't exactly encourage the business of first-hand, on-site reporting, which is the lifeblood of journalism.

You can only hope Cablevision appreciates Newsday for its legacy of editorial integrity and independence in news, sports, business and entertainment coverage, invests in this valuable asset and allows it to blossom again---not only on Long Island and in the New York metro area, but for readers everywhere via newsday.com.

In the interim, we're still here (outside of some summer vacation weeks), reporting, commenting and exchanging views on the Rangers and the NHL as before.

Here's the names of seven restricted free agents who might not be signed by their current teams. Should the Rangers be interested? I'd be monitoring.

Antoine Vermette, Senators; Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, Predators; Marek Svatos, Avalanche; Joe Pavelski, Ryan Clowe, Sharks; Steve Bernier, Sabres.

Thoughts? Other candidates?

Pens-Flyers tonight. Loss of Kimmo Timonen (blood clot) will hurt Philly D. Pens power play could be the difference in the series. Martin Biron will have to steal a couple games for Flyers to advance.

Meanwhile, Rangers assistant coach Perry Pearn told the Palm Beach Post that he's interested in the Florida bench job---he has ties with GM Jaques Martin. The possibility was first reported down there weeks ago. Paul Maurice and Pat Quinn also are candidates.And Joel Quennevillle got the ax today in Colorado Pearn has a year left on his contract, but the story says that Glen Sather would let him go if he lands a head coaching job.

If Pearn leaves, who should replace him? Ken Gernander from Hartford, who has worked with the young turks? Brendan Shanahan? Mark Messier (probably not, he prefers the front office scene). Thoughts? Candidates?

....for the World Championships. The 29-year-old d-man will be making his first international appearance for the Czech Republic.

Also, thanks to laurie and Mitch Beck for seconding my sense of the five fellows from the Pack who have a shot at the club in September: Lauri Korpikoski, Artem Anisimov, Dane Byers, Greg Moore, Corey Potter.

More paperwork and errands on the agenda before a trip south tomorrow to collect my daughter and her belongings from Villanova...

Tying up some personal loose ends today, checking in on the World Championships, (Henrik Lundqvist expected to play tomorrow for Sweden, which he called an underdog with only seven pros; no kidding, the Red Wings are still skating), but let's open it up to continue the post-season discussions...

1. What should Glen Sather do with his free agents before July 1 and why....
Jagr, Shanahan, Avery, Straka, Rozsival, Mara, Malik, et al....and keep the cap in mind.

2. Tom Renney said yesterday that five Wolf Pack players have a chance to make the team in September: Your thoughts on to whom he was referring? Lauri Korpikoski, obviously, is one.


3. The draft is June 20, and the Rangers pick 20th. Who to target? This may require some thought and research, but what the heck were you planning to do today anyway? Read more about Roger Clemens or Barbara Walters?

Seems to me that if RW Jared Staal is still there, I'd be interested. There could be some good-sized D available as well: 6-foot-7 Tyler Myers (Kelowna); 6-4 Colten Teubert (Regina) and some offensive blueliners: Michael Del Zotto (Oshawa) 43-11-34-45; and Yann Sauve.

Let it roll....

“First I am going to talk to the Rangers,” Jagr said. “That’s No. 1 option for me. I don’t like to change. I feel very comfortable here, with all the people around this organization who are nice to me. They give me a chance to show everybody I still can play hockey. Everybody doubted me when I was playing in Washington for whatever reason. The Rangers gave me a chance and believed in me... All I have to do is concentrate on hockey.”

Jagr also said, very seriously, that if he stayed healthy, he would play for several more years.

"Look at Chelios playing till 44. Everything is about health, if you stay healthy ypu have a chance to work hard and do what you want. But I don't think I would sign longer than two years, just because of my dad; he asked me to come home in two years."

His father's team is building a new arena, and "he wants me to be there," Jagr said. "My family's always been important, I've got to look at what happened 25 30 years back; because of them I'm here." He then said he was kidding, but no one really believed him.

As for the other world-class forward who is a free agent, 39-year-old Brendan Shanahan, he sounded as if he wasn't ready to hang up the skates.

"I definitely feel today, that at this point, I definitely know that I can still be a productive player in the NHL and certainly somebody who contributes to a team's wins in a variety of ways," Shanahan said. "If I didn't feel confident, I would make my decsion to stop playing today. If I decided to play, this (New York) would be my first choice."

Three Rangers will play in the World Championships: Henrik Lundqvist for Sweden, Brandon Dubinsky for the U.S. and Fedor Tyutin for Russia.

More later...

NHL just made the announcement of the first round order...

I was driving by his majesty's court hotel
Where the sign said 'Praise his name'
I was tired and alone I couldn't see too well
But I don't think that he was to blame

Thank God the tiki bar is open
Thank God the tiki torch still shines
Thank God the tiki bar is open
Come on in and open your mind....
----John Hiatt

There are plenty of warm days and sultry evenings ahead for the pool, the beaches, the squash court (where did my game go?), for family and friends, and for thinking about the draft and next season.

The illusion is that of a sudden finality; not so; we're not departing. The inn isn't closed----it just won't be cookin' 24/7. But we'll be here posting in the coming months with Rangers and NHL news and observations, so be sure you swing by this ol' tiki bar as often as you'd like.

Before we drive off to the rink for the final time for a few months, here's my story in today's editions, which takes a quick stab at the salary cap situation:

After physicals and farewells today, the off-season turns into a numbers game for the Rangers.
"It should be an interesting few months," said Chris Drury, who will leave with his family to California for the summer before returning in September as possibly the Rangers' elder statesman at 32.
Sunday's disappointing finale in Pittsburgh served to highlight the holes (defense, size, power play) that the franchise will attempt to fill in the summer through free-agent signings and in training camp from within. It also illuminated the increasing presence of young players---11 of the 20 who dressed were under 25.
The NHL's salary cap is expected to rise to between $55 million and $56 million next season, up from $50.2 million, and the Rangers should have plenty of space to maneuver---especially if the front office sheds most of their over-30 free agents, or signs one or two to reasonable short-term deals.
By not re-signing captain Jaromir Jagr and unrestricted free agents Brendan Shanahan and Martin Straka (who are likely to retire), and defensemen Paul Mara and Marek Malik, the Rangers would lose an estimated $19 million in cap space. That would leave room for a younger replacement for Jagr---although the Penguins' Marian Hossa is the only true free agent sniper available and will command $8 million on the open market.
The cap hits of Scott Gomez ($7.3 million), Drury ($7 million) and Henrik Lundqvist ($6.9 million) lock in $21.2 million. On defense, the Rangers have committed just $5.5 million in cap space to five defensemen, with the most to Christian Backman ($2.3 million). The remainder: Fedor Tyutin ($988,000), Dan Girardi ($750,000), Marc Staal ($827,000) and Thomas Pock ($685,000). Pock spent most of the season in the AHL

Among the forwards, Brandon Dubinsky ($633,000) and Ryan Callahan ($575,000) will be restricted free agents in 2009-10 and could be extended. Petr Prucha ($1.6 million) and Dane Byers ($608,000) are under contract. Other forwards under contract are Blair Betts, Colton Orr, Ryan Hollweg (a total cap hit of $1.66 million).
Add backup goaltender Stephen Valiquette, who could be resigned for about $700,000, and that's another $5.8 million, for an estimated total of $32.4 million in cap hits for 16 players. More could be cleared, of course, if some of those players begin next season with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack.
Of the team's top restricted free agents, the Rangers presumably will sign Nigel Dawes, and possibly Fred Sjostrom and Greg Moore. The future of defenseman Ivan Baranka and forward Pierre Parenteau is uncertain. Prospects Lauri Korpikoski, who scored the Rangers first goal Sunday on his second career NHL shot, and center Artem Anisimov, will get long looks in camp.
One of the biggest decisions, of course, is whether Jagr wants to return---and at what price. The 36-year-old right wing, whose $8.36 million salary resulted in a cap hit of just $4.94 million because his former team, the Washington Capitals, was still on the hook for some of the money, is an unrestricted free agent who said he wants to play for several more years, possibly in the NHL or his native Czech Republic.
After Sunday's game, he indicated that he would discuss the situation with his family and play where it makes him happy, but that it would not be a quick decision. Jagr, who scored 71 points and stepped up his game in the last six weeks, has said privately that he understands that the Rangers, whose focus and offense has shifted away from him, may not be the right fit after three and half seasons.
Then there is the question of Sean Avery, the controversial and unpredictable left wing/irritant who earned $1.9 million and endured an injury-filled season, and broke off contract talks this winter when he said the two sides were far apart on financial issues. Both sides must determine how much can Avery---who likes the bright lights and wants to stay in New York---contribute, and again, at what price?
On defense, Michal Rozsival's cap number was $2.1 million this season, and that could double for the Rangers or whichever team signs the unrestricted 29-year-old defenseman. The Sharks' Brian Campbell, an unrestricted free agent who will command $6-million-plus per season, could quarterback the power play, but the Rangers also could hand that job to Staal and perhaps wait a year for prospect Bobby Sanguinetti and opt for toughness in a player such as Pittsburgh's UFA Brooks Orpik.

See ya later....

In the wake of the 3-2 overtime loss in Pittsburgh that ended the Rangers season, Jaromir Jagr said the game would not be his last after 17 years in the NHL.

"I don't think I'm going to retire from hockey, I'm going to play somewhere, I don't know where," said the 36-year-old superstar, and said he would take some time to discuss his future with his family and friends. "I don't want to make any decisions 30 minutes after we lost the hockey game."

Jagr, an unrestricted free agent, could possibly return to the Rangers, sign with a team that plays a more up-temp offense, which he favors, (Carolina, Detroit) or play in Russia or back home in the Czech Republic.

"The year before, I knew what was going to happen. This year, it's going to happen wherever I want it to happen. Whatever's gonna make me happy, that's what I'm going to do. But it's going to take time, I have to talk to my dad, my friends, they look at it differently than I do, I'm sure they're gonna give me good advice on what I should do."

More on this later...