Canadiens GM candidates … Howson on draft, Nash … McQuaid OK … Bryzgalov out this weekend … P.A. likely gone
  • Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: LeBrun lists some potential candidates for the Canadiens GM: Julien BriseBois, Marc Bergevin, Francois Giguere, Vincent Damphousse, Claude Loiselle, Patrick Roy, Pat Brisson, Pierre McGuire, Andre Savard, Doug Risebrough and Pierre Lacroix.There has been talk that the Blue Jackets may want to move their top pick as the top 2 prospects are Russian, and they haven’t had much luck with Russians. GM Scott Howson thinks that is hogwash:

    “What I will say to that speculation is that I think it would be close-minded of us, I think it would border on stupidity to not include any player just because they’re from Russia,” Howson told ESPN.com this week. “I think everybody is different. The fact that Zherdev and Filatov didn’t work out here will have no bearing on who we select in this upcoming draft.”

    Howson knows they need to address their goaltending situation, and he lines their blueline. On Rick Nash:

    “I’ll have a conversation with Rick after the year ends and see where he’s at, see where we’re at, and make a game plan moving forward,” said Howson.

  • Stephen Harris of the Boston Herald: Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid’s eye injury appears to only be minor, and no concussion was sustained. McQuaid was hit from behind by Jason Chimera the other night. He won’t play in either game this weekend, but should be back soon.
  • Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: The Flyers likely won’t play Ilya Bryzgalov this weekend in either of their afternoon games against the Senators and Penguins. Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to start both games.
  • BD Gallof via twitter: The more Gallof talks to people, the more likely it seems that P.A. Parenteau will sign somewhere else, cashing in on his first big payday. Parenteau will want to be paid like a top a line player, but the Islanders don’t include him there if their kids develop.
  • Joanne Ireland of the Edmonton Journal: The Oilers tried to recall Magnus Paajarvi yesterday but the move was rejected as they’ve already used their 4 callups after the trade deadline. In February, Paajarvi was assigned to the AHL so that he’d be eligible from their playoffs, then immediately recalled. The Oilers also called up Linus Omark, Teemu Hartikainen and Chris VandeVelde.

    “We believed we had confirmation to recall Magnus in one of our four call-ups after the trade deadline,” said Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini. “The league informed us today the only way he could be recalled was under an emergency recall basis.”