The NHL announced yesterday the official schedule for the Rangers. New York will of course start their season with a to trip to Europe and a double header in Prague on October 4th and 5th against the Tampa Bay Lightning. According to earlier reports, the Rangers will play a pre-season competition in Switzerland before heading to the Czech Republic, and are likely to have two separate squads playing through much of the preseason.

The trip to Europe also means that the Rangers will have the unusual distinction of playing in three different season openers. On October 4th they and the Lightning will open their respective seasons, on the 10th they’ll play their first game at MSG in the season opener for the Chicago Blackhawks, and finally they’ll travel to Philadelphia to help the Flyers kick off their season on October the 11th.

Also in the news after the last couple of days, the re-signing of Nigel Dawes to a modest one year contract, as well as recent acquisition Dan Fritsche, also to a one year contract.

Earlier in the week the Rangers traded forward Ryan Hollweg to the Leafs in exchange for the Penguins 2009 fifth round pick (acquired by the Leafs last spring in the Hal Gill trade).

If you’re recognizing a few old names in the NHL transaction logs, then you’re not alone. Several former Rangers properties have signed NHL contracts after being elsewhere last season, including Jamie Lundmark (CGY), Jay Leach (NJD), Fedor Fedorov (NJD), Chad Wiseman (NJD), Josh Green (ANA), Cory Larose SJS) and Steve MacIntyre (FLA).

The Wolf Pack picked up the option on Jordan Owens, resigned Mike Ouellet and signed McGill University defenseman (and captain) David Urquhart to a contract.

In addition the Rangers picked up a couple of youngish minor league defensemen. Vladimir Denisov is a 24 year old Russian born defender who played most of the year last season with the Lake Erie Monsters. In addition the Rangers announced today the signing of 27 year old blueliner Brian Fahey who played with the Calder Cup champion Chicago Wolves last year. Neither player has yet made it to the NHL.