He understands that his Rangers career is over, and now defenseman Darius Kasparaitis wants to play for SKA St. Petersburg in the Russian Elite League.

The Rangers won't block the Lithuanian-born Kasparaitis, 35, from leaving. He has been playing with the Hartford Wolf Pack since late September. A financial arrangement has not yet been finalized, a Rangers spokesman said yesterday.

Kasparaitis, who is owed about $3 million in the final season of his six-year contract with the Rangers, cleared waivers in late September.

After losing 20 pounds in a conditioning program during the summer, Kasparaitis, who played 863 games in the NHL with the Islanders, Penguins, Rangers and Avalanche, said he was not ready to retire. He played 28 games in Russia for AK Bars Kazan during the lockout.