Kathy Willens/Associated Press

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Rangers General Manager Glen Sather usually blows past reporters on his way out of N.H.L. meetings without any comment to reporters beyond “not now boys, I’ve got a plane to catch.”

But as he left the general managers meetings Wednesday, he stopped and spoke briefly to reporters, offering opinions on the Rangers’ next opponents, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, and on the status of Sean Avery, who announced his retirement Monday night but whose agent seemed to backtrack Tuesday.

Q.

Have you been in touch with Sean Avery? Over the last 24 hours he said he is retiring, then he indicated he would be potentially open to playing.

A.

Last I read he announced that he was retiring. So we sent him his retirement papers, but of course he wouldn’t sign them. So I don’t have any idea what he’s doing.

He was in Hartford for the last month. He had a difficult time there. We didn’t put him on the clear-day list. So as far as I’m concerned, I really haven’t spoken to him. If he’s going to retire, he should retire. If he’s not, maybe somebody’ll give him a job next year.

Jason Cohn/Reuters

Q.

You’re playing the Penguins tomorrow, with Sidney Crosby coming back.

A.

They’re obviously, I think, the best team in the league.

Q.

You’re talking about the Penguins?

A.

Well, with him back, it’s certainly going to make it a lot more difficult.

Q.

Is the game tomorrow night a statement game, with the Penguins having won nine in a row and Crosby coming back?

A.

I think we’ll be excited to play. They’re a great team. They’ve got their full lineup. We’re missing some people. So it’s going to be a good contest — we’ll give ‘em a fight.

Q.

The Rangers have been coasting along in first place for a long time.

A.

I don’t think we’ve coasted at any time this year. Every game we’ve played has been intense. We’ve worked hard, we’ve got a good bunch of young kids, the chemistry is good.

Q.

Can the Rangers bounce back from their relatively average performance lately to the higher levels of before?

A.

I don’t know what you mean by that. I’m happy with the way the team’s been playing. It’s been a good year so far. The difficult part is coming up in the next two months.

Q.

Is winning the Presidents’ Trophy an important goal for the Rangers?

A.

Our goal is just to get into the playoffs. Whatever happens after that is a bonus, as far as I’m concerned.