Bantering Points: 2/18/17

Here are today's news and links:

Rangers News:

• Brett Cyrgalis relays word Alain Vigneault declined to point to the notoriously poor ice at the Barclays Center as an excuse for the Rangers' loss on Thursday (NY Post)
• Dave Caldwell discussed how Brady Skjei has developed from a wide-eyed rookie in training camp to a dependable player on New York's blue line (NY Times)
• Sean Hartnett chatted with Mika Zibanejad about how the Swedish center needs to get back to playing with instinct (CBS)
• Rick Nashtag gives his take on how J.T. Miller and Kevin Hayes have been putting up points despite their sub-par underlying metrics (Again I Am Right In My Analysis)
• Brandon Cohen believes that either Rick Nash's or Derek Stepan's days on Broadway are numbered, due to the upcoming expansion draft (Blue Line Station)
• Drew McCaffrey argues that New York can't afford to go all-in and acquire Kevin Shattenkirk at the trade deadline (Blue Line Station)
• Justin Rutherford offers his thoughts on the Rangers' situation as the gear up for the stretch run (Blue Seat Blogs)/

Around the NHL:

• Greg Wyshynski reports that Chris Hansen, the prospective arena developer based in Seattle, Washington, expects an NHL team to arrive in the city before the NBA makes it's return (Puck Daddy)
• Jonathan Willis examines what he cost of rental players should look like this season (Sportsnet)
• Scott Cullen rounds up the top ten storylines of the past week around the league (TSN)
• James O'Brien hears that the NHLPA will fight Anaheim Ducks' forward Antoine Vermette's automatic ten game suspension for physical abuse of an official (NBC Sports)/

Do you know who the Ranger in the picture is?