Here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

• Larry Brooks thinks that recently recalled forward Vinni Lettieri will add an element the Rangers have been missing (NY Post)
• Brooks also reported that in spite of an optimistic recovery time of 6-8 weeks, the length of Chris Kreider’s absence is unknown (NY Post)
• Sean Hartnett analyzes how Marc Staal has re-emerged as one of New York’s most dependable defenders (CBS)
• Rob from BSB offers his thoughts on Kreider’s injury, the previous game against the Washington NHL team, and more (Blue Seat Blogs)
• Garrett Gartino attempts to optimize the Blueshirts’ bottom six forwards (Blue Line Station)
• Shawn Taggart comments on the high volume of dangerous chances the Rangers give up on a nightly basis (Blueshirts Breakaway)
• Matt Calamia highlights how Vinni Lettieri will look to turn Chris Kreider’s injury into his NHL breakthrough (Official Team Site)
• Amanda Borges went one-on-one with Lias Andersson (3:36 video via Official Team Site)
• Media Availability: Ondrej Pavelec,(1:49) Kevin Shattenkirk,(3:20) Mika Zibanejad,(1:43) Alain Vigneault,(7:47) and Vinni Lettieri (1:45)/

Around the NHL:

• Luke Fox makes ten bold predictions for the 2018 calendar year (Sportsnet)
• The Toronto Maple Leafs will host a celebration of Johnny Bower’s life on January 3rd (TSN)
• Ken Campbell argues that the six game suspension handed down to Zac Rinaldo is more of an indictment against the league rather than Rinzaldo (The Hockey News)/