Here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

• Larry Brooks relays word from former Rangers’ general manager Emile Francis about his opinion on Jeff Gorton and how he’s handled New York’s current situation (NY Post)
• Brett Cyrgalis highlights the fact that the team could be facing a leadership void by tomorrow afternoon (NY Post)
• Justin Tasch reminisces on the career of Jean Ratelle as his #19 is set to ascend to the rafters tonight (NY Daily News)
• Brian Heyman hears that most of the Blueshirts’ players are anxious for the trade deadline to come and go (Newsday)
• Tom Castro doesn’t think it will be easy for the Rangers to revamp their defense corps (Elite Sports NY)
• Karly Redpath examines the legitimacy of the trade rumors surrounding Ryan McDonagh and the Toronto Maple Leafs (Blue Line Station)
• Jack Milewski points out Pavel Buchnevich’s return as one of the few recent bright spots in New York (Blue Line Station)
• George Ruggiero analyzes whether or not the franchise should gauge the market for J.T. Miller (Blue Line Station)
• Dave Shapiro offers his take on the team’s recent trades (Blue Seat Blogs)/

Around the NHL:

• The men’s Olympic Ice Hockey Tournament came to a close last night, as the Olympic Athletes from Russia defeated Germany 4-3 in overtime to earn gold (The Guardian)
• Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron was spotted leaving the Air Canada Centre in a walking boot after his team’s 4-3 defeat in Toronto (TSN)
• Emily Sadler reports that the Senators are actively working with defenseman Erik Karlsson in the hopes of finalizing a trade by tomorrow (Sportsnet)/