Here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

• Brett Cyrgalis relays word that Kaapo Kakko is doubling down on the statements he made in a recent Finnish interview concerning the team’s current state and his role on it (NY Post)
• Brian Heyman noticed that David Quinn put his forward lines back into the blender, and the end result saw Artemi Panarin booted off the top line, and Kakko promoted in his place (Newsday)
• Sean Hartnett argues that the Blueshirts’ defensemen can’t leave their goaltenders hanging out to dry on a nightly basis like they have over the first three weeks (WFAN)
• Steve Paulus believes that Kakko’s unhappiness with the Rangers’ current state is a major problem moving forward (Blue Line Station)
• Anthony Tornatore Jr. ponders if New York’s farm system prospect pool is the best in the NHL (Blue Line Station)
• Frank Curto writes that in spite of several attempts at juggling forward lines and defensive pairings, the Rangers’ losing ways have been the only consistent thing over the last two weeks (Elite Sports NY)
• Media Availability: David Quinn (7:22) and Brendan Smith (2:38) (Official Team Site)/

Around the NHL:

• In spite of experiencing a hot start eerily similar to last year’s, the Buffalo Sabres aren’t letting the end result of last season crawl into their head right now (NBC Sports)
• Elliotte Friedman authors another edition of 31 Thoughts (Sportsnet)
• After being placed on waivers to officially sign with the Anaheim Ducks, defenseman Luca Sbisa was claimed off waivers by the Winnipeg Jets (Arctic Ice Hockey)
• Peter Flynn goes in-depth on contracts, value added, and GAR to examine who the league’s best and worst general managers since the lockout are (Winging It In Motown)
• Daniel Weinberger breaks down some breakout systems by using passing clusters (Hockey Graphs)/