On the St. Louis Blues …
Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: An official announcement on a one-year contract extension for head coach Ken Hitchcock could come as early as this morning according to sources. The Blues or Hitchcock wouldn’t confirm the report last night.
Hitchcock is 224-103-36 during the regular season, and 20-27 in the playoffs.
On Troy Brouwer …
Luke Fox of Sportsnet: Pending Blues unrestricted free agent Troy Brouwer has thought about playing for his hometown Vancouver Canucks.
“I have thought about it, for sure,” the North Deta native told Vancouver’s News 1130 Sports Monday. “Family and friends, playing for my hometown — it would be an experience for sure.”
Brouwer wouldn’t mind re-signing with the Blues if given the opportunity.
“It’s definitely a team, a city and a franchise I’d like to come back to if the opportunity makes itself available,” Brouwer said of St. Louis after being eliminated by San Jose.
On the Calgary Flames …
Kristen Odland of the Calgary Herald: Flames European free agent signing, Daniel Pribyl, hopes to play in the NHL and would love to play with Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau. In 45 games with HC Spart Praha last season, he scored 16 goals and added 29 assists. Pribyl is a natural center, but will likely be moved to the wing by the Flames.
“I feel more comfortable at centre,” he said. “But two or three months at the end of this season I played at right wing and I don’t think it’s that different.
“It’s my goal (to play in the NHL) so we’ll see what happens in the next two years.”
On the World Cup of Hockey …
Bob McKenzie: The Russian federation has been informed that Slava Voynov won’t be eligible to play in the World Cup of Hockey as he’s still suspended by the NHL.
Aivis Kalnins: Sources saying that KHL teams may ignore World Cup invitations and not release players for the tournament.