Here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

• Brett Cyrgalis highlights the Rangers’ traditional centers and their ability to slide over to the wing as a key factor in their lineup decisions (NY Post)
• Colin Stephenson hears that the team is feeling good after coming out of the Christmas break with consecutive wins over quality teams (Newsday)
• Elliotte Friedman reports that playoff contenders appear to be interest in potentially acquiring Chris Kreider (Sportsnet)
• Steve Paulus ponders whether or not New York has officially moved on to the competing stage of their rebuild, or if stellar goaltending and offensive star power are masking fatal flaws (Blue Line Station)
• Billy McInerney believes it would behoove the Blueshirts to be patient with Brady Skjei (Elite Sports NY)
• Kris Knoblauch has been tabbed to coach the Atlantic Division All-Stars for the festivities at the AHL’s 2020 All-Star game (Official Team Site)
• Thirteen years ago today, Donald Brashear decided that running around Madison Square Garden like a headless chicken would be a good idea, so Brendan Shanahan had to let him know that it was, in fact, a very bad idea (Youtube)/

Around the NHL:

• Jared Clinton reminisces on the ten worst contract signings of the 2010’s (The Hockey News)
• Mark Spector details the road James Neal took from growing up in Whitby, Ontario to starring in NHL cities fro Pittsburgh to Edmonton (Sportsnet)
• Columbus Blue Jackets’ head coach John Tortorella was unhappy with the referees following his squad’s contest against the Chicago Blackhawks (TSN)
• Adam Gretz examines what it might cost for the Vancouver Canucks to keep goaltender Jacob Markstrom in the fold beyond this season (NBC Sports)/