TORONTO – Wanting to get tougher but apparently unable to get a young, tough heavyweight, the Rangers yesterday picked up 29-year-old Krzysztof Oliwa from the Penguins in exchange for the all-too-familiar future considerations.

Oliwa, who has had chemistry issues throughout a five-year career that has taken him through New Jersey, Columbus and Pittsburgh, had 150 PIMs (and two assists) in 57 games last season. The 6-5, 235-pound left winger, who had a career-high 295 minutes in 1997-98 as a rookie with the Devils, is owed a rather pricey $990,000 qualifier by June 30.

“He’s a big, strong guy who’s been through a lot of interesting things,” said GM Glen Sather, who may now place Sandy McCarthy on the market. “You have to have assets . . . and this is an example of the organization adding an asset.”

If not a liability.