Here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

• Larry Brooks writes that the time has come for Kaapo Kakko to be unleashed (NY Post)
• Colin Stephenson previews tonight’s contest against the Washington Capitals as “the biggest game of the year” for the Blueshirts (Newsday)
• Sean Hartnett doesn’t think David Quinn’s squad can afford to let points keep slipping away like they have the past three games (WFAN)
• Vincent Mercogliano answers questions concerning Julien Gauthier, possible call-ups from AHL Hartford, and more (LoHud)
• Tom Castro argues that signing Jesper Fast to a contract extension shouldn’t be done without giving it some thought (The Hockey Writers)
• Steve Paulus breaks down how the league’s latest estimate for the 2020-21 salary cap should be of major help to New York (Blue Line Station)
• Paulus also hears that an official timetable of 4-6 weeks has been put on Chris Kreider’s fractured foot (Blue Line Station)/

Around the NHL:

• Jared Clinton examines which teams around the league would benefit the most from the projected salary cap increase (The Hockey News)
• Elliotte Friedman authors another edition of 31 Thoughts (Sportsnet)
• Ian Mendes reports that after only 54 days on the job, Jim Little is no longer the CEO of the Ottawa Senators (TSN)/