“Don’t bother it now, Let sleepers lie. Bygones have all gone by.” Several locker rooms should familiarize themselves with that Get Up Kids song in time for training camp this September to help ease the, uhh, awkwardness.

With today’s trade of Aaron Ward back to Carolina, Ward will now be a teammate of Scott Walker, the man who suckerpunched him in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last year.

“I still have practice. I can get him back in practice,” Ward joked at today’s press conference. “It’s water under the bridge. I’m on his team now.”

Walker was not suspended for the play. He then went on to score the series-clinching goal in Game 7.

Meanwhile, the Rangers signed enforcer Donald Brashear to a two-year deal a few weeks ago. Brashear, as a member of the Capitals, hit Blair Betts with a cheap shot during the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals and never saw another minute of action in the playoffs after receiving a six game suspension for the hit.

“I don’t agree at all with what happened with Blair Betts. We all know that was wrong,” Rangers coach John Tortorella said after the Brashear signing. “But you also have to understand the situation that we’re in now where we’re looking to make changes on the hockey club and believe that Donald has a unique presence that will help us.”

Even though Blair Betts is an unrestricted free agent this summer, Brashear’s welcome from other Rangers players might be a little cold, to say the least.

“If any of our guys have an issue with Donald, then settle it like men,” said Tortorella.