Here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

• Highlights: NYR 5, NYI 4 (4:48 video via NHL.com)
• Mollie Walker hears that Blueshirts’ players are learning to utilize the freedom Gerard Gallant’s system has given them after being shackled down by David Quinn for the past three seasons (NY Post)
• Walker also discusses how Vitali Kravtsov’s return to the lineup was felt in a big way last night (NY Post)
• Colin Stephenson sees the naming of the 28th captain in franchise history as the final step for the Rangers to take before kicking off the regular season (Newsday)
• Media Availability: Filip Chytil (1:55) and Vitali Kravtsov (1:24) (Official Team Site)/

Around the NHL:

• With the puck set to drop for Opening Night in two days, many around the league hope the 2021-22 campaign will represent a return to normalcy (NBC Sports)
• The St. Louis Blues agreed to a one year, $750,000 contract with forward James Neal (Sportsnet)/