Richter Out For Season

NHL teams

"I anticipated getting better from the moment I got hit," Richter said. "I didn't even expect to miss a practice."

"I really love the game. Right now, I've been advised that I can't play and they won't let me. That's very difficult to accept at this time."

Richter has had two concussions in the last eight months and has been waiting to go 48 hours without experiencing postconcussion symptoms such as fatigue or lightheadedness. He has not arrived at that two-day period yet.

"It's amazing how you really can't participate in life," he said. "Your brain has been hit and your central nervous system is really out of whack."

The Rangers didn't waste any time acquiring goaltender Mike Dunham from Nashville for forward Rem Murray, defenseman Tomas Kloucek and the rights to defenseman Marek Zidlicky.

The Rangers have started 19-year-old Dan Blackburn in all 17 games without Richter. GM Glen Sather didn't say who would take Richter's place as the Rangers' top goalie.

"Mike has been a No. 1 goaltender," Sather said. "I suppose it depends how things shake out with him and Danny. I'm more concerned with winning games than who will be No. 1 or No. 2. I didn't want to see Danny lose his confidence and struggle and have our team struggle."

The Rangers have suffered many injuries and lost Wednesday night to Chicago without Richter, captain Mark Messier, top defenseman Brian Leetch, leading goal-scorer Pavel Bure and agitator Matthew Barnaby. The Rangers then lost defenseman Sylvain Lefebvre in the second period when he broke his right index finger.