Here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

• Highlights: NYI 4, NYR 2 (5:02 video via NHL.com)
• Vin Cherwoo recaps last night’s defeat from the world’s most famous arena (NY Daily News)
• Brett Cyrgalis saw the Blueshirts look significantly outclassed in their first game without Artemiy Panarin since the 2018-19 campaign (NY Post)
• Colin Stephenson relays word that Lias Andersson has been in contact with the organization as of late, and has begun skating Kungalvs IK of the Swedish second division (Newsday)
• Brain Abate examines the reasons the Rangers are ecstatic to have Brendan Lemieux back in the lineup (The Hockey Writers)
• Steve Paulus ponders if the trade rumors surrounding Chris Kreider and the Boston Bruins have any legs to them (Blue Line Station)
• Justin Rutherford argues that the time has come for the NHL to eliminate the loser point (Blue Seat Blogs)
• Alexandria DiNatale believes that Igor Shesterkin’s three audition on Broadway has done nothing but left fans wanting to see more of Henrik Lundqvist’s heir apparent (Empire Writes Back)/

Around the NHL:

• Francisco Oporta reports that the Florida Panthers will be hosting the festivities at All-Star Weekend for the 2020-21 season (Litter Box Cats)
• Akim Aliu, the former NHL forward who stepped forward and prompted a re-evaluation of hockey culture, has agreed to a contract with HC Litvinov of the Czech Extraliga (Sportsnet)
• Edmonton Oilers’ farmhand Brandon Manning has been suspended for five games after uttering a racial slur during Monday night’s AHL contest between the Bakersfield Condors and Ontario Reign (TSN)
• James O’Brien saw the Chicago Blackhawks pay tribute to their former head coach Joel Quenneville, as he and his Florida Panthers visited the United Center and came away with a 4-3 road victory (NBC Sports)
• Jared Clinton details how the Tampa Bay Lightning have weathered the early-season storm they faced and emerged as the top tier Stanley Cup contenders they’ve been for the past several seasons (The Hockey News)/