Rangers coach John Tortorella announced Sunday that defenseman Marc Staal will not be traveling with the team to Europe this week. The team is planning to fly to Europe for a series of exhibition matches against European teams before participating in the NHL's annual Season Premiere event after a preseason match with the Flyers Monday night.
Staal has been suffering from concussion-like symptoms since receiving a hit from his brother, Carolina captain Eric Staal, late last season.
"He will not be on the trip," Tortorella told the Rangers official website Sunday. "We are hoping as he continues his procedures with the specialists that I will have an update in 4-5 days. We're gonna try and get him on the trip. Once he's ready to do all the stuff we want him to do to prepare for the regular season, we'll have him come out."
While Staal is not going to fly to Europe with the team this weekend, Tortorella stopped short of ruling him out for the season opener. The Rangers start their 2011-12 campaign against the Kings on Oct. 7 in Stockholm.
