Bantering Points: 9/29/23

Here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

Highlights: NJD 3, NYR 2 (5:05 video via NHL.com)

Larry Brooks writes that a new coaching staff means a fresh start for Alexis Lafreniere, and it’s looking like the former first overall pick could begin the season on New York’s top line (NY Post)

Mollie Walker points out that in addition to shaking up forward lines, Peter Laviolette is also opting to split up the top two defensive pairs the Rangers trotted out for most of the last two seasons (NY Post)

Vincent Mercogliano offers three takeaways from the Blueshirts’ defeat at the hands of the New Jersey Devils (LoHud)

Brendan Azoff took a deeper dive behind the numbers of the Rangers’ first two preseason games (The Hockey Writers)

Around the NHL:

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is expected to miss the first two months of the season after undergoing back surgery (NBC Sports)

Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard recorded a pair of assists in his preseason debut as Chicago defeated the St. Louis Blues by a 2-1 margin (Sportsnet)

Calgary Flames assistant general manager Chris Snow is not expected to wake up after suffering a traumatic brain injury as per his wife Kelsie (TSN)