“Torts does a great job of checking in with the leaders to find out when the team needs rest during the season, and he is doing a really good job managing our ice time here in camp,” team captain Ryan Callahan pointed out to Jim Cerny on Blue Shirts United.

The Blueshirts will take part in two practice sessions. Today, they held team meetings and looked at video. Tortorella doesn’t want to overwork his team with a hectic 48-game schedule beginning Saturday in Boston. The Rangers return to Madison Square Garden Sunday for their first home game against the Penguins. That should be interesting.

Only one player skated today. Brad Richards missed the first three days of camp due to the flu. The first line center could start the season centering Carl Hagelin and Rick Nash. He was excited about the possibility of reuniting with Hagelin, who’s entering his second year.

“I’m excited to play with (Hagelin),” he said. “I think he’s already better just from what I’ve seen in the fall and what we did last week. Obviously he has the speed, but he’s starting to calm down with the puck and make plays. I think that’s a big step for him, and with that speed, he’s just so dangerous.”

It’s probably a wise decision to split Nash and Marian Gaborik up, giving the lineup more balance. With Chris Kreider struggling in Connecticut, the rookie out of Boston College was on the third line with Brian Boyle and Taylor Pyatt. A big checking line if that’s what Tortorella starts with. Gaborik is getting a look at left wing where he might play with Derek Stepan and Callahan. It’ll be interesting to see if he can adjust. The fourth line so far is Mike Rupp, Jeff Halpern and Arron Asham. A crash bang trio who should be an upgrade.

Tortorella heaped praise on former Ranger Brandon Prust yesterday. He’ll be tough to replace but Tort likes the additions of Pyatt, Halpern and Asham, who should make our team grittier. The fiery coach will join WFAN’s Mike Francesa at 5:30 today to discuss this year’s club. There are many expectations with many picking them to win the Atlantic and face Pittsburgh in the Conference Finals. The heat is on beginning Saturday.