Here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

• Brett Cyrgalis argues that a tough slate of games, featuring five out of six on the road, will tell the tale of New York’s season (NY Post)
• Sean Hartnett notes that New York’s decision to go off the board and reach for Vitali Kravtsov at the 2018 Entry Draft is looking like a shrewd move (WFAN)
• Dave Shapiro answers questions about Chris Kreider, the trade deadline, and more (Blue Seat Blogs)
• Shapiro also broke down the issues behind New York’s defensive zone coverage (Blue Seat Blogs)
• Frank Curto previews tonight’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets (Elite Sports NY)
• Brain Paget offers new year’s resolutions as the Rangers head into 2019 (Elite Sports NY)
• Sam Prevot ponders if the Blueshirts should target a forward or a defenseman at the top of the 2019 Entry Draft (Blue Line Station)
• Nicholas Zararis suggests that Jimmy Vesey’s production has slipped under the radar this season (Blue Line Station)
• Prospect Report: With bits on sixteen of the organization’s prospects, including all four WJC participants, this edition of the prospect report is more comprehensive than most (Official Team Site)/

Around the NHL:

• Gare Joyce goes in-depth on how Jack Hughes could be the greatest player the U.S. National Team Development Program has ever produced (Sportsnet)
• After waiving him earlier this season, the Montreal Canadiens have recalled defenseman Karl Alzner from AHL Laval (TSN)
• Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Auston Matthews, and Alexander Ovechkin have been voted as captains for the 2019 All-Star Game (NBC Sports)/