It’s New York Rangers day at PHT

After plodding their way to a frustrating series loss against the Penguins in 2015-16, Alain Vigneault changed the New York Rangers’ style, and it worked in 2016-17. The Rangers’ experience ranks up there as maybe the most indicative of just how ridiculously stacked the Metropolitan Division was. The Rangers were one of nine teams in the NHL to generate at least 100 standings points (in their case, 102), finishing just one behind the Montreal Canadiens, who won the Atlantic Division.

Morning Skate: Pastrnak stalemate 'could go into training camp'

Here are all the links from around the hockey world, and what I’m reading while really interested to see what Don Sweeney is going to do now. *John Tavares is in no rush whatsoever to re-sign with the New York Islanders and that may not be a great sign for them if they don’t really clean up a few things including their rink situation. *The NHL doesn’t have an NCAA loophole problem, according to the Hockey News. I don’t have a big issue with it right now either, but it could really become a problem if every single drafted college player begins following this path to free agency. *Las Vegas resident Deryk Engelland is acting as the Golden Knights welcome wagon for all the new players coming into Sin City for the expansion franchise.

Sabres sign Zemgus Girgensons: two years, $3.2M

The Buffalo Sabres basically wrapped up their mandatory summer moves by signing RFA Zemgus Girgensons to a two-year, $3.2 million contract on Thursday. That translates to a cap hit of $1.6M per year; the team confirmed those terms. The 23-year-old

• 
  Sabres sign Girgensons to 2-year contract

  ESPN.com
• 
  Buffalo Sabres: Girgensons' Best Fit May Be in the Top-6

  The Hockey Writers