Bolstering their array of potential sixth or seventh defensemen, scratch options and players eligible to be exposed in a hard-cap dispersal draft, the Rangers yesterday signed Dale Purinton to a two-year deal valued somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.4 million.

Purinton, a member of the organization since 1997-98 and a Ranger since midway through 2000-01 – only Mark Messier, who rejoined the team for the start of the 2000-01 season, has a longer tenure on Broadway – recorded one goal, one assist and 117 penalty minutes in 40 games last season. He was also scratched for 40 before missing the final two games of the season with a concussion.

Purinton, signed despite refusing management requests to report to Hartford for conditioning assignments in both of the last two seasons, is part of a Ranger defense corps that currently includes Darius Kasparaitis, Fedor Tyutin, Tom Poti, Karel Rachunek, Tomas Pock and Jason Strudwick.