The destination, even more than the departure of Bobby Holik, rankles Devils captain Scott Stevens.

“It definitely leaves a little more of a bad taste because of the rivalry,” Stevens told The Post yesterday. “I don’t know if I could imagine myself going to the Rangers after all the years of battling them.

“It’s something we’ll have to overcome.”

Stevens is already skating informally with a dozen-odd teammates under the unofficial eye of ex-Devil John MacLean, who seems positioned to fill an open slot as an assistant coach for Pat Burns.

With 20 NHL seasons under his belt, Stevens might have thought he’s seen it all, but Holik’s jump to the Rangers was one he didn’t expect.

“I was surprised,” Stevens said simply. “I really thought something would get done.”

The Devils captain, who twice signed free-agent contracts to jump to St. Louis from Washington and again from New Jersey, said he understood the situation, even if he doesn’t like it.

“From Bobby’s view, it’s handy, a chance to stay where he’s living and his daughter can stay in the same school. I can’t blame anyone for that because I’ve made the same decision,” Stevens said. “It’s disappointing because we’re not going to have him.

“But I’m not bitter at him for leaving.”

That said, Holik should be prepared for the first, second and every other time Stevens finds him at the end boards wearing Ranger blue.

Despite Holik’s departure, Stevens said he is optimistic.

“I really like Pat Burns. He’s coached great teams and done a good job, and coached bad teams and had them play well. And he’s a really good bench coach,” Stevens said. “We’re definitely a faster team and getting Turner Stevenson back will help.

“It’s a different team, and we haven’t had that in a while.”

*

Agent Steve Bartlett yesterday said he expects restricted free agent Jamie Langenbrunner to be in camp, which opens with physicals a week from today.