Bantering Points: 5/4/23

Here are today's news and links:

Rangers News:

Mollie Walker relays word from Gerard Gallant about his surprise to be answering questions concerning his job security after two years as head coach (NY Post)

Walker also notes that based on his comments towards the media yesterday, Patrick Kane's time on Broadway appears to be over (NY Post)

Larry Brooks laments the fact that the version of Kane that played for the Rangers was a shell of his vintage self due to a combination of age and injury (NY Post)

Colin Stephenson discussed the hip injury that limited Kane to less than 100% throughout his time with the Blueshirts (Newsday)

Vincent Mercogliano posed five questions New York will need to answer as they embark on another early offseason (LoHud)

Mercogliano also offered his observations from breakup day as the 2022-23 Rangers went their separate ways (LoHud)

Matt Grazel lists five players that under performed during the team's opening round loss to New Jersey (The Hockey Writers)

$hayna Goldman break$ down why in $pite of the fact that Jacob Trouba'$ late game hit again$t Timo Meier in Game 7 wa$ a legal one, legality doe$n't make it a clean hit (The Athletic)

Media Availability: Mika Zibanejad (5:34), Chris Kreider (3:37), Barclay Goodrow (5:38), and Jacob Trouba (6:26) (Official Team Site)

Around the NHL:

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New Jersey Devils 5-1 to take Game 1 of the Metropolitan Division Finals (TSN)

Stuart Skinner (EDM), Matty Beniers (SEA), and Owen Power (BUF) have been named as finalists for the Calder Trophy as the league's best rookie (Sportsnet)

Nashville Predators' defenseman Mark Borowiecki announced his retirement from the NHL (ESPN)