Fun Fact: I officially leave for college today! Here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

• Larry Brooks notes that the Blueshirts’ lack of urgency against the Islanders makes dreams of a playoff run hard to imagine (NY Post)
• Brett Cyrgalis points out that Kaapo Kakko received a season high 19:33 in ice time in the team’s final game before the break (NY Post)
• Vincent Mercogliano chatted with Kakko about his first half of North American hockey and his plans for the All-Star break (LoHud)
• Sean Hartnett discusses how the Rangers’ record when Artemiy Panarin fails to tally a point tells the tale of how important he is (WFAN)
• Scott Blair evaluates the organization’s current goaltending situation (The Hockey Writers)
• Frank Curto highlights how Henrik Lundqvist has taken over a role as a veteran mentor sooner than most would have expected (Elite Sports NY)
• Curtis Jetter argues that the Rangers should attempt to make a second half payoff push rather than prepare for a fire sale (Blue Line Station)/

Around the NHL:

• Ken Campbell examines how what the cap hits would be for each of the four All-Star teams in St. Louis (The Hockey News)
• Boko Imama, the AHL forward that had a racial Slur directed at him by Edmonton Oilers’ farmhand Brandon Manning, spoke out in the wake of the incident (TSN)
• Elliotte Friedman authors another edition of 31 Thoughts (Sportsnet)
• Adam Gretz reports that Gritty has been accused of sucker punching a thirteen year old at a meet and greet with fans back in November (NBC Sports)/