Rangers head coach John Tortorella spent time at the U.S. Olympic camp, but when MSG caught up with him there, he was the first to admit his real focus right now — and for the past two months — is the Blueshirts’ training camp that opens Sept. 12.

When the Rangers drafted Ryan Bourque this summer, they knew they were getting a hard-working, talented player. On Sunday, in his first major-junior preseason game with Quebec, the third-rounder scored three points to earn No. 1 Star honors.

The 1934-35 Rangers season remains something of a forgotten year, although it did feature a 13-game unbeaten streak and a ninth consecutive trip to the playoffs. Some fan favorites did emerge, however, including the first Jewish Rangers player.

Vinny Prospal, a four-time 20-goal scorer who had his best seasons playing under Rangers head coach John Tortorella when Tortorella was in Tampa Bay, ended a brief run in free agency Monday — agreeing to terms on a contract with the Rangers.

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced that Mark Messier has been named Special Assistant to the President. Messier spent a decade in New York as a player, leading the Rangers to the 1994 Stanley Cup.

Rangers captain Chris Drury and forward Ryan Callahan are both in the running for spots on the 2010 U.S. Olympic team, which will go after the gold in Vancouver. Hear what the two players said about the experience of last week’s evaluation camp.

Rangers forward Ryan Callahan visited the MSG Training Center to join in the team’s youth hockey camp on Wednesday. He also talked about what’s been a very eventful summer, featuring a new contract, new teammates, and a U.S. Olympic tryout.

Marian Gaborik will be warmly welcomed to the Rangers locker room next month. He’ll see a very familiar face in former NHL teammate Aaron Voros, who tells Rangers on Demand that Blueshirts fans are going to be amazed by what Gaborik can do.

The U.S. Under-20 team completed its four-game series against the Russians with a 6-0 win to clinch the series 3-1. Few players meant more to the team’s success than Rangers prospect Derek Stepan, who finished with eight points in four games.

Vinny Prospal, a four-time 20-goal scorer who had his best seasons playing under Rangers head coach John Tortorella when Tortorella was in Tampa Bay, ended a brief run in free agency Monday — agreeing to terms on a contract with the Rangers.