Bantering Points: 2/14/24

Here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

Larry Brooks made note of Peter Laviolette’s decision to sit Matt Rempe as a healthy scratch after being called up from AHL Hartford (NY Post)

Andrew Crane sees the Blueshirts’ decision to waive Tyler Pitlick as one rooted in a desire to give Adam Edstrom an opportunity to carve out a role ahead of the trade deadline (NY Post)

Colin Stephenson details how the All-Star break appears to have recharged the Rangers as they have yet to lose since returning to action (Newsday)

Sam Henes offers his assessment of the Blueshirts decisions to waive Pitlick and send Rempe back to Hartford without dressing for a game (The Hockey Writers)

Around the NHL:

Columbus Blue Jackets’ forward Patrik Laine and his agency spoke out in response to a member of the B&B Roundtable, a Blue Jackets-centric podcast, making a distasteful comment joking about suicide and Laine’s recent entrance into the player assistance program (Sportsnet)

Stephen Whyno reports that Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly has been suspended five games for the post-goal cross check to the head of Ridley Grieg he delivered (AP News)

Ryan Clark relays word that free agent forward Phil Kessel will work out in Abbotsford, home of the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate, with a contract potentially to come before the trade deadline (ESPN)