The Rangers are set to conclude their annual California road trip later today, as the team is in San Jose to square off against the Sharks. With the team all but locked into the first Wild Card position, Alain Vigneault could elect to use tonight’s matchup to test out combinations before heading into the playoffs. Or, he could do what he always does and do Alain Vigneault things. Anyway, here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

• Larry Brooks noticed that the “bad” J.T. Miller has bubbled up to the surface, and that’s bad news for New York (NY Post)
• Steve Zipay hears from the players as the Rangers look to put their sub-par effort in Anaheim behind them (Newsday)
• Justin Tasch highlights the team’s search for consistency as they head into the home stretch (NY Daily News)
• Jim Cerny ponders what’s next for New York now that they’re healthy for the first time since the early portion of the season (The Hockey Writers)
• Dave Shapiro points out how Michael Grabner’s puck luck has finally came back down to Earth (Blue Seat Blogs)
• John Williams believes that the Rangers’ coaches have finally discovered the secret Dan Girardi has been hiding from the talking heads of the hockey world (Blue Line Station)
• Timothy Haggerty thinks New York’s ability to win games in regulation will play to their strength once the playoffs begin (Blue Line Station)
• Matt Calamia sat down with recent Rangers’ signing Chris Nell about Nell’s ability to overcome trials, both in hockey and throughout his life (Official Team Site)
• Prospect Report: Ty Ronning record a goal and an assist in his first two games with the Hartford Wolf Pack, plus more bits (Official Team Site)/

Around the NHL:

• Luke Fox looks ahead the 2017 class of free agents (Sportsnet)
• Greg Wyshysnki relays must-read comments from Jermey Roenick, with a jail cell and the DMV being the highlights (Puck Daddy)
• Pierre LeBrun passes along word that the International Ice Hockey Federation would prefer if the NHL made their Olympic participation an all-or-nothing decision going forward (TSN)
• Jared Clinton lists the five players who had the most notable breakout seasons in 16-17 (The Hockey News)/