Brendan Shanahan wants to play this season and he wants it to be with the New York Rangers, ESPN.com reports. All that's missing now is a contract.

The 39-year-old free agent has been skating with members of the Rangers over the past week but remains without a contract. There has been interest from other teams, but according to ESPN.com Shanahan wants to re-sign with the Rangers.

"We're continuing to have discussions with the Rangers with the hope of Brendan being able to play there," Shanahan's agent, Rick Curran, told ESPN.com on Tuesday evening. "Unless and until that changes, we're not interested in talking to anybody else right now."

But it may not be an easy deal for the Rangers to make because the team has little room under the $56.7 million salary cap, ESPN.com reports.

"I've been optimistic throughout the summer that I was going to be part of the Rangers," Shanahan told the Journal News on Tuesday. "I've kept in touch with [Rangers GM] Glen [Sather]. He's kept that door open and I've kept that door open. ...

"And here we are now, coming down to it. It's not like we had a whole lot of decisions to make."

The Rangers open training camp next Tuesday with physicals. On-ice sessions start the next day.

Shanahan had 23 goals and 23 assists in 73 games last season, his second with the Rangers.

According to ESPN.com, the Rangers are believed to be among eight teams still interested in free-agent center Mats Sundin, who continues to mull over his future. The longtime Toronto Maple Leafs captain may take another few weeks, if not months, before making a decision on his future.

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