- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Canucks ownership will need to decide if one or both of John Tortorella and Mike Gillis will be back.
Expect Flames coach Bob Hartley to return next season. Top candidates to for the Flames GM position: George McPhee, Laurece Gilman, Dave Poulin and Claude Loiselle.
There could be at least three groups that have spoken with Charles Wang about buying the Islanders.
Capitals coach Adam Oates may be fired after the season.
The Hurricanes may look to trade Cam Ward (two-years with a $6.7 million cap hit). The Flames, Islanders, Sabres and Capitals could be looking for a goalie this offseason.
Ron Francis (pending Hurricanes GM) will have to decide if they will buy out the remaining four years and $28 million left on Alex Semin’s contract.
Ken Hitchcock’s job may be on the line if they have an early playoff exit.
Rumors are that the Canadiens and P.K. Subban’s camp have only held preliminary talks, with serious negotiations talking place after the playoffs. He could get an eight-year contract worth around $7.5 million per season.
There are rumors that the Panthers will try to sign pending UFAs Dave Bolland and Matt Moulson.
Thought is that Dallas Eakins will be back with the Oilers next year. Mark Messier could be a coaching option for them down the road.
- Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: Simmons thinks the Leafs top priority this offseason should be to re-sign Dave Bolland.
Simmons thinks Randy Carlyle will be the Leafs coach next season.Simmons wonders if the Predators will fire Barry Trotz and if the Penguins don’t have a successful playoffs, will they fire Dan Bylsma?
The Leafs, Avalanche and Lightning will be interested in Leo Komarov this offseason.
- Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: The Bruins will have about a $4.5 million salary cap penalty next season for bonus overages for Jarome Iginla, Dougie Hamilton and Torey Krug. They have $62 million already committed for next year. Pending RFAs: Krug, Matt Bartkowski, Reilly Smith and Jordan Caron.
- Larry Brooks of the NY Post: John Tortorella won’t be back as the Canucks coach unless ownership chooses him over GM Mike Gillis. Tortorella may be spreading word that Jay Feaster is a GM that he could work with.
Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller could be let go by incoming GM Ron Francis.
