TORONTO — Mats Zuccarello has a message for his teammates in New York.
“Don’t be friends with me,” the winger told The Post. “Or else you might be traded.”
Zuccarello, whose Team Europe will face Team USA in Saturday afternoon’s World Cup opener, had his tongue in his cheek, of course. But the fact is his two closest friends on the Rangers were each traded over the previous two summers, Carl Hagelin going to Anaheim in 2015 and Derick Brassard to Ottawa this July.
And it hurts.
“I know it’s the business, I understand that,” the Norwegian said. “Management is doing what they think is best for the team to make us better.
“But as a human being and a friend, I don’t appreciate it. I’ve lost my two best friends, and in that way I don’t think about hockey. Personally, I’m really sad to lose them.”
Zuccarello led the Rangers in scoring last season with 61 points. His 26 goals were one shy of team leader and customary linemate Brassard, who went to the Senators for 23-year-old center Mika Zibanejad, a younger, faster, more physical center.
“When I spoke with Brass on the phone, it was very emotional,” Zuccarello said. “We played some really good hockey together the last three years, and he played very well for us in big moments.”
Zuccarello has played 10 games already, including three pre-World Cup matches for Team Europe plus seven in the Olympic qualifying tournament in which he helped Norway nail down a spot for the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
“I almost feel like it’s the middle of the season,” he said. “I’m looking forward to this tournament, but I’m really excited about getting back to New York for the season.
“Management was looking to add speed to our core. It might be a little different for me. I don’t know who I’m going to be with, but I’m really excited to see what it’s going to be all about.”
John Tavares, the Islanders’ above-the-title marquee center, will skate on left wing for Team Canada, which faces the Czech Republic squad Saturday night. Tavares has been on the flank with center Ryan Getzlaf since the opening of camp, with rotating right wings. Steven Stamkos was in that spot for Friday’s practice.
“The role is a little bit different, but that doesn’t have any impact on my expectations for myself to contribute at a high level,” Tavares told The Post. “You embrace your role in a tournament like this.
“You do what’s needed within the team concept, establish your game and go from there,” he said. “It’s a bit of an adjustment playing on the wing, but I’ve done it before and I’m comfortable with it.”
Former Ranger Vinny Prospal, an assistant coach for the Czech Republic, told The Post that he was “heartbroken” to leave his position as a pro scout for the club following the 2013-14 season.
“With four children at home, I couldn’t be the dad I wanted to be and needed to be with all the time on the road for that job,” said Prospal, who makes his home in Tampa. “That organization is first-class. I have nothing but respect and good wishes for them. I hope maybe one day I would have another chance to work for the Rangers.”