Here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

• Highlights: NYR 3, CGY 1 (3:57 video via NHL.com)
• Game Recap: The Rangers give Henrik Lundqvist a stellar defensive effort for his birthday, allowing Calgary to only generate one goal (CBS)
• Larry Brooks points out how Kevin Hayes is handling his new role as one of the team’s veteran leaders (NY Post)
• Justin Tasch discusses how some of the team’s other young veterans will have increased leadership roles (NY Daily News)
• Tasch also chatted with Ryan Spooner about the trade that sent him to New York, and the impact he’s had on his new squad (NY Daily News)
• Colin Stephenson heard from Mats Zuccarello about his reaction to surviving the Blueshirts’ trade deadline fire sale (Newsday)
• Greg Auman caught up with former Rangers Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller to discuss the feeling of playing for a legitimate contender for the first time in their careers (Newsday)
• Dave Shapiro thinks that after opting for quantity over quality at the trade deadline, the Rangers must begin the search for elite talent (Blue Seat Blogs)
• Michael Delasandro asks five questions that should be answered heading into next season (Blue Line station)
• Frank Curto relays word of how Vladislav Namestnikov found out he was being traded from Tampa Bay to Broadway (Elite Sports NY)
• Jess Rubenstein delivers another prospect update, with bits on Ty Ronning, Ryan Lindgren, and more (Blueshirt Bulletin)
• Media Availability: Alain Vigneault,(1:13) Ryan Spooner,(1:32) and Henrik Lundqvist (3:24) (Official Team Site)/

Around the NHL:

• Sustained winds of 15-20 Miles per Hour are set to have a tangible impact on today’s Stadium Series game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals (NBC Sports)
• In light of the 60 year anniversary of breaking the NHL’s color barrier, momentum is building for former Boston Bruins’ defenseman Willie O’Ree’s induction into the Hall of Fame (TSN)
• Damien Cox examines how the salary cap has turned every NHL team into a buyer at one point or another (Sportsnet)
• Ryan Kennedy runs a mock draft for a potential Seattle NHL franchise (The Hockey News)/