Here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

• Mollie Walker relays word that Kaapo Kakko is set to return to the lineup this afternoon after being removed from the COVID Protocol list (NY Post)
• Walker also saw David Quinn downplay his decision to bench Mika Zibanejad during Thursday night’s contest (NY Post)
• Colin Stephenson notes that Igor Shesterkin’s injury is not as bad as initially feared, and is day-to-day with a groin strain (Newsday)
• Sean Crimmins details how Ryan Lindgren has emerged as a critical piece of the Blueshirts’ defense corps (The Hockey Writers)/

Around the NHL:

• Salim Valji highlights the attributes that Darryl Sutter will bring to the Calgary Flames in his second stint as the team’s head coach (TSN)
• Dave Melton reports that Chicago Blackhawks’ defenseman Brent Seabrook is no longer physically able to play in the NHL, and his career is over (Second City Hockey)
• Rory Boylen hears that Buffalo Sabres’ general manager Kevyn Adams felt the need to clarify the fact that superstar forward Jack Eichel is yet to demand a trade out of Buffalo (Sportsnet)
• James O’Brien discusses the hit from Washington Capitals’ forward Tom Wilson that landed Boston Bruins’ defenseman Brandon Carlo in the hospital (NBC Sports)/