Patrick Maroon getting interest
Michael Russo: Unrestricted free agent Patrick Maroon has over six ‘job opportunities’ for this season.
No update on RFA Ivan Barbashev
Jeremy Rutherford: As of yesterday, there is no update on St. Louis Blues restricted free agent forward Ivan Barbashev according to his agent.
Guerin leading candidate for the Wild?
Dan Kingerski: Believe that after Don Waddell signed an extension with the Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins assistant GM Bill Guerin moved closer to getting the Minnesota Wild GM position. Nothing is imminent, but there is talk behind the scenes.
Update on RFA Brendan Lemieux
Anthony Scultore of Forever Blueshirts: Restricted free agent Brendan Lemieux is still looking for a contract from the New York Rangers. Lemieux’s agent and dad, Claude Lemieux of 4SportsWorld, updating the situation.
“I have had a few conversations with the Rangers management team but I can’t say that we are close to signing a new contract.”
The Rangers don’t have a lot of salary cap space to work with and may prefer a two or three-year deal. Both Lemieux and Anthony DeAngelo have received qualifying offers.
Team name for Seattle in early 2020
Alex Prewitt of SI.com: Seattle GM Ron Francis said he’s trying to stay out of the naming of the team.
“They have a firm that’s working on that. There’s a meeting every week on it. The plan is to have a name as we get early into 2020.”
Francis hopes to add an assistant GM soon and to bring on an analytics staff to start working on expansion draft tools. He would like to add four or five scouts this year.
The hiring of a head coach likely won’t happen until after January of 2021.
Hurricanes hire a goalie coach
Cory Lavalette: The Carolina Hurricanes have named Jason Muzzatti as their goalie coach. Muzzatti played for the Hartford Whalers back in 1995-96.
Cory Lavalette: Muzzatti was a starting goaltender at Michigan State for one season when Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour was there.