On the Dallas Stars …
Mark Stepneski: Stars restricted free agent Mattias Janmark is playing in the World Championships despite not have a contract. Janmark took out insurance so that he could play in the tournament. GM Jim Nill said that the sides are in talks regarding a new contract.
Sean Shapiro: GM Nill on their coaching search: “No real update. It’s been a pretty good cross-reference of different experiences. Still status quo and going through the process.”
Frank Seravalli: University of Denver head coach Jim Montgomery is a candidate for the Stars vacant heading coaching position. Montgomery is also a candidate for the NY Rangers.
On the Philadelphia Flyers …
Bill Meltzer: If looking to improve their penalty kill, could see the Flyers having a possible interest in unrestricted free agents Michael Grabner, Riley Nash or Antoine Roussel. Internal PK help could come from Oskar Lindblom, Nic Aube-Kubel or Taylor Leier.
Dave Isaac: Can bet on the Flyers trying to package their two 2018 first-round picks (No. 14 and No. 19) and trying to move up in the draft. The Buffalo Sabres aren’t going to move their first overall. Not sure who the Flyers could target, but believe they’ll be trying to move up.
John Boruk of NBC Sports Philadelphia: Flyers GM Ron Hextall will be meeting with his scouts over the next six weeks. The Flyers will have two picks in the top 20, and with Hextall’s history of moving up in the draft, he could be aggressive with the picks.
“We’ve seen enough players where it’s a good draft and we’re going to get a couple of good players if we make those picks,” Hextall said last week. “In terms of options, yeah, it gives you more options. If you want to move up, I would envision the chance to move up.”
Three years ago the Flyers moved up to draft Travis Konecny. Last year they traded Brayden Schenn for two first-round picks, and they moved up nine spots in the second-round to draft Isaac Ratcliffe.
“We’ll look at everything with those picks,” Hextall said. “I’m not saying we move them or move up. I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going to come our way. You sit here and you might want this or that. Someone else is going to want the same things you want.”
