Here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

• Larry Brooks writes that even in spite of their victory in the draft lottery, the Rangers can’t afford to go off course and accelerate their rebuild (NY Post)
• Greg Joyce relays word about the lack of word on Henrik Lundqvist’s future with the team following a conversation with team president John Davidson (NY Post)
• Vincent Mercogliano lists three things Blueshirts fans should know about Alexis Lafreniere (LoHud)
• Mercogliano also discusses what adding the first overall selection of the 2020 Entry Draft will mean for the organization’s future (LoHud)
• Sean Hartnett offers his take on New York’s lottery victory (WFAN)
• Will Wright previews how Lafreniere could fit into the Blueshirts’ lineup if they opt to use the first overall selection on him (Blue Line Station)
• Danny Small sums up the Rangers playoff experience in just four words (Elite Sports NY)/

Around the NHL:

• Elliotte Friedman authors another edition of 31 Thoughts (Sportsnet)
• Ken Campbell hears that in spite of the exciting action the Stanley Cup Qualifiers produced, the league has no plans to change its playoff format anytime soon (The Hockey News)
• As a result of last night’s quintuple overtime game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Tampa Bay Lightning, Game 1 of the Bruins/Hurricanes series was pushed back to 11:00 AM EDT today (TSN)
• James O’Brien recaps the opening day of playoff action, a day that saw the Lightning be joined by the Calgary Flames and Vegas Golden Knights as Game 1 winners (NBC Sports)/