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Rangers' Boyle Curses Out Reporters On Break-Up Day In Greenburgh

GREENBURGH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Dan Boyle was just a little out of sorts on Tuesday morning.

The veteran defenseman, who has hinted repeatedly that he would retire once the Rangers' season ended, took umbrage with some reporters during break-up day at the team's practice facility in Westchester County, refusing to begin his interview unless specific scribes removed themselves from his presence.

Boyle singled out the New York Post's Larry Brooks and Brett Cyrgalis. Brooks was present, while Cyrgalis was not. Boyle is heard on audio saying he had no problem with the rest of the reporters in the locker room, but would not begin discussing the disappointing end to the Rangers' season unless Brooks left the vicinity.

The following is the back and forth between Boyle and Brooks, as transcribed by Yahoo! Sports:

Boyle: "I don't want him here."

Brooks: "What? You know, the feeling's mutual, man."

Boyle: "Nobody likes you. Nobody respects you. Just so you know."

Brooks: "OK."

Boyle: "At least I'm leaving here with the respect of my teammates."

Boyle then went on to say, "I have no respect for you. I want you to get the (expletive) out."

To which Brooks responded, "I don't care what you think."

Boyle: "I can tell you to get the (expletive) out if I want to!"

Brooks: "You can, but I don't have to listen to you."

"Yeah, ya do!" Boyle responded. "I want him out. And that other (expletive) clown, Brett, or whatever the (expletive) his name is. Everyone else is fine. I want him out. It's my right."

According to WFAN.com's Sean Hartnett, Brooks eventually obliged.

While it's unknown what caused Boyle, who has generally been very good with the press, to lash out, tensions around the Rangers are still high following their five-game loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the playoffs.

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"It's a great group of guys. A great team...a great organization," Boyle would eventually tell reporters Tuesday.

Cyrgalis, who is currently covering the Islanders in the second round of the playoffs, responded to the incident on Twitter.

Boyle was once considered one of the best defensemen in the game, largely due to his prowess as a power-play quarterback. In all, he has spent 17 seasons in the NHL, including the last two with the Rangers. He won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004, and also spent time with the Florida Panthers and San Jose Sharks.

During his stay with the Blueshirts, Boyle has 19 goals, 25 assists and a plus-18 rating in 139 games, but was a healthy scratch in Game 5 of the series against Pittsburgh.

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