Bantering Points: 2/4/17

Here are today's news and links:

Rangers News:

• Larry Brooks updates Antti Raanta's situation since the goaltender became a father on Thursday (NY Post)
• Justin Tasch hears from Brandon Pirri about how he needs to step up his game in order to earn his spot in the lineup back (NY Daily News)
• Sean Hartnett discusses how a change of scenery has made a world of difference for Michael Grabner (CBS)
• Dave Shapiro offers his take on Alain Vigneault's contract extension (Blue Seat Blogs)
• Brandon Cohen argues that bringing in a veteran for the sake of "veteran presence"would likely backfire on the Rangers (Blue Line Station)
• David Bruce breaks down how Mats Zuccarello has made up for his lack of goals with sparkling play in other areas (Blue Line Station)
• Karly Redpath highlights the versatility Jesper Fast provides for Alain Vigneault (Blue Line Station)
• After signing a $1.6 Million deal in the summer of 2014, he was cut during training camp and waived outright without ever skating in a meaningful game for New York. Yesterday's player in the picture was.....Matthew Lombardi (Wikipedia)/

Around the NHL:

• Frank Seravalli believes that yesterday's meeting between the NHL and the International Olympic Committee was nothing more than a "courtesy" (TSN)
• Susanne Craig reports that Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola had withdrawn his name from consideration to be Secretary of the Army in President Donald Trump's administration (NY Times)
• Mike Johnston assembles this season's edition of the All-Healthy Scratch Team (Sportsnet)
• Greg Wyshysnki relays word that the rumored deal between the Arizona Coyotes and Arizona State University for a new Coyotes arena has fallen through, leaving the Coyotes future up in the air (Puck Daddy)/