The Rangers say defenseman Darius Kasparaitis will be ready for the start of training camp in 20 days after a cartilage tear was arthroscopically repaired in his right knee yesterday.

The 30-year-old bodychecker played 80 games for the second straight season last year, his first with the Rangers after signing as a free agent last summer.

An MRI Tuesday revealed the tear in the lateral meniscus cartilage, a shock absorber in the knee, and showed no damage to either the anterior cruciate or medial collateral ligaments.

CUJO OUT 6 WEEKS

Red Wings goalie Curtis Joseph had ankle surgery yesterday that will keep him off the ice for six weeks and may hinder Detroit’s attempts to trade the three-time All Star.

GM Ken Holland has been trying to trade Joseph since July, when two-time MVP Dominik Hasek came out of retirement to return as Detroit’s goalie.

The Wings signed Joseph to a three-year, $24M contract before last season. The team then picked up an $8M option on Hasek’s contract to prevent him from becoming a free agent. Holland said he wanted to move one of the goalies “as quickly as possible.”