BY STEVE ZIPAY

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Fedor Tyutin was on the ice at the MSG Training Center yesterday in sandals, white socks and shorts, smiling and passing pucks to a handful of teammates shooting at empty nets.

It was another sign that the 20-year-old defenseman, who has played just eight games with the Rangers, is fitting into the NHL lifestyle more and more with each hour in New York.

"Like any young player, you need a little bit of time to get used to it," said Alex Kovalev, who followed a similar route from Russia to the Rangers in 1992. "You can see game by game, he gets better and better. The guy has a lot of confidence and he knows he can play in this league. He uses his body, he can pass well ... he's strong and he does everything that this team needs from him."

The rebuilding Rangers will need plenty from Tyutin in the future, especially because veteran defenseman Brian Leetch is expected to be shipped out before next Tuesday's trading deadline. With the Avalanche on the brink of acquiring Capitals defenseman Sergei Gonchar and goaltender Olaf Kolzig, Leetch is becoming the top target of the Maple Leafs and Stars, according to published reports.

The 6-2, 217-pound Tyutin was projected to be a first-round choice in the 2001 NHL entry draft but wound up being selected 40th overall.

"Of course it bothered me," Tyutin said yesterday before a team meeting. "I was so upset." But once he was selected by the Rangers, "who were my favorite team growing up," he said he felt much better.

In the last three games, Tyutin averaged about 15 minutes of ice time while Boris Mironov has been scratched. He has impressed coaches, players and observers with his poise. Against the Thrashers on Sunday, coach Tom Renney sent him out to help kill a five-on-three penalty in the first period, and he blocked a shot by Shawn Heins that started a rush leading to a Chris Simon goal moments later.

Tyutin seems fully recovered from a Jan. 8 MCL sprain that initially delayed his call-up from AHL Hartford and is clearly fitting in.

"I'm feeling more comfortable every day," he said.