NEW YORK -- Rangers general manager Glen Sather is looking everywhere to help his injury-plagued, last-place team fight to keep alive any hope for the playoffs.

His latest move came Wednesday when he traded for disgruntled defenseman Boris Mironov. In return, New York sent a fourth-round pick in next year's draft to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Mironov hasn't played since Dec. 1. He skipped practice two days later because of complaints about his lack of playing time, and demanded a trade. He was suspended and stayed away until Dec. 31, when he began a 14-day conditioning program.

"When I found out he was having a problem, I called them right away,'' Sather said.

Sather added that he thought the deal would be completed sooner, but it took a while because of what Chicago was looking to get back.

Mironov's suspension cost him over $620,000 through last weekend and he stood to lose upward of $800,000 by the time his conditioning stint was due to end next week.

"I don't want to go inside the story,'' Mironov said. "I don't feel sorry I lost the money. I made the decision and it's done. I just have to concentrate on playing the game.''

But the trade landed him in the depleted Rangers' lineup Wednesday night against Carolina. Mironov fit in well right away, assisting on Matthew Barnaby's goal in the first period.

"I like everything about him. Boris is a good player,'' Sather said.

The Rangers are in last place in the Atlantic Division and 13th in the 15-team Eastern Conference through just over half the schedule. The top eight clubs reach the playoffs.

"We've got to start making some moves. We've got to start winning some games, put a string together or we can be right out of it,'' Sather said.

New York is playing without injured forwards Petr Nedved and Pavel Bure, and defensemen Brian Leetch and Dale Purinton. Regular goalie Mike Richter was lost for the season after he sustained a concussion in November.

Left wing Ronald Petrovicky sprained his right ankle Monday in a loss to Ottawa and is expected to miss four weeks. Rico Fata missed his second straight game Wednesday because of a concussion.

Leetch might be out past next month's All-Star game. Leetch told Sather on Wednesday that he is still having trouble moving his injured ankle.

Sather has recalled nearly all the top players from the Rangers' AHL affiliate in Hartford, Conn. The latest saw the return of forward Jamie Lundmark and the debut of right wing John Tripp, who was leading Hartford with 21 goals this season.

"We've got to do the best thing we can do to keep the team in a position so that we can still compete to get into the playoffs,'' Sather said.

Mironov has a one-year, $3.3 million contract and will become an unrestricted free agent after the season. He had three goals and an assist in 20 games with Chicago this season.

The Rangers, who opened the season with the highest payroll in the league at $69 million, will assume $1.5 million of Mironov's salary.

Mironov spent parts of six seasons in Edmonton when Sather served as the Oilers' GM. Mironov was dealt to Chicago because Sather said the Oilers couldn't afford him.

"I don't have any problems with him, he's a good guy in the dressing room,'' Sather said.

Mironov had 70 goals and 279 points in 10 NHL seasons with three teams before the trade.