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)