By BRUCE BERLET, Courant Staff Writer
Rangers defenseman Darius Kasparaitis wasn't enthralled with his first minor league assignment.
After a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to New York, Kasparaitis arrived in Hartford 15 minutes before the Wolf Pack's morning skate Wednesday. Then he made a rugged impression in the 4-3 victory over the Portland Pirates.
Kasparaitis had crunching hits that leveled Kent Huskins and Drew Miller and a hip check against Tim Brent, who sustained an injured left leg. Kasparaitis also was stopped by Michael Leighton on a short-handed breakaway with 2:07 left in the second period.
"I hope [Brent] is all right, but you have to be aware of who's on the ice," Kasparaitis said. "I just finished my check. I didn't try to hurt him."
Kasparaitis, whose annual salary is $2.98 million, said his demotion was "a little bit shocking" after 13 years in the NHL.
"I just went out and tried to enjoy it," Kasparaitis said. "What else is going to happen? I don't think they're going to send me to the [ECHL]. It was fun to be involved, feel important and be trusted. ... It's another bump in my career, and I'll try to make the best of it."
The Rangers said Kasparaitis will be with the Pack for 10 days of conditioning.
"I thought Darius played really well," said assistant coach J.J. Daigneault, who played with Kasparaitis in Pittsburgh. "There's not a big gap between the NHL and AHL, but he hasn't been playing many minutes. But playing 22-25 minutes with us will help him and elevate our game."
The Rangers could ask Kasparaitis to stay with the Pack longer or waive him. If he clears waivers, he could remain in Hartford.
"It's up to me," Kasparaitis said. "If I play good, then maybe they bring me back. If I play average, they're probably going to put me on waivers. But all I can control is me."
Kasparaitis, 34, had shoulder surgery in May and more surgery in June to repair a torn muscle in his side. He played in four exhibition games but missed the first five games of the season. Kasparaitis (5 feet 11, 215 pounds) had one assist and 10 penalty minutes and was minus-5 in six games.
"Every practice and game in New York, I felt like I was being watched under the microscope," Kasparaitis said. "Right from the beginning of training camp, I had a feeling they weren't 100 percent behind me because I came not fully recovered. That upset some people and is probably why I'm [in Hartford]."
