Here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

• Larry Brooks poses eight questions that summarize the latest developments in the Artemiy Panarin issue (NY Post)
• Brooks also writes that for all the chaos the team has endured through this shortened season, they’ll need to hunker down and pull together to remain in the playoff race (NY Post)
• Colin Stephenson heard Chris Kreider’s take on Panarin’s leave of absence (Newsday)
• Vincent Mercogliano offered his observations from yesterday’s practice (LoHud)
• Sean Hartnett thinks that for all the hype surrounding a potential Jack Eichel trade, the Blueshirts would be wiser to target Montreal Canadiens’ center Philip Danault (WFAN)
• Sean Crimmins highlights three players that will need to step up in the wake of Panarin’s exit (The Hockey Writers)
• Rachel Nones sees a Rangers’ team that needs to simplify their game in order to succeed (The Hockey Writers)
• Jim Bay examines the possibility of Panarin filing a libel lawsuit against his accuser should evidence that definitely proves him innocent comes to light (Empire Sports Media)
• Media Availability: Brendan Smith,(4:01) David Quinn,(6:25) and Chris Kreider (6:04) (Official Team Site)/

Around the NHL:

• Ian Oland noticed that Washington Capitals’ goaltender Henrik Lundqvist hit the ice for the first time since undergoing open heart surgery (Russian Machine Never Breaks)
• Sammi Silber takes a look at the current candidates to secure the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie (NBC Sports)
• Elliotte Friedman authors another edition of 31 Thoughts (Sportsnet)
• Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Luke Schenn headlined a list of four players that were placed on waivers yesterday (TSN)/