Oilers not in a rush to name a GM
Sportsnet: The Edmonton Oilers are not in a rush to name their next general manager according to Chris Johnston as Bob Nicholson is taking his time.
“The best way to put it is that Bob Nicholson is still in information-gathering mode,” said Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston during the ‘Headlines’ segment of Hockey Night in Canada. “Down at the general managers meetings he had some lengthy conversations with various people in hockey and it sounds like, if anything, his list is growing instead of shrinking at this point in terms of potential candidates.”
The Oilers are comfortable with Keith Gretzky and he’ll likely be part of the processes.
There were some rumors that Nicholson might move on, but that may not be the case according to Elliotte Friedman.
“He said that that’s not the message he wants to send. He believes this is an important time to be part of the organization and that he wants to be part of the solution. He’s not looking to go anywhere.”
Barrie may not be expendable just yet
Mike Chambers of the Denver Post: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie has a year left on his contract and he knows there are two similar styled defensemen in the Avs pipeline – Cale Makar and Conor Timmins.
The Avalanche could make Barrie available this offseason, and Barrie knows the rumors are there.
“Obviously, I’m not blind to it,” Barrie said of the situation last week when he stood 10th in NHL scoring among defensemen with 46 points (seven goals) in 63 games.
The 27-year old Barrie loves it in Colorado and would like to sign a contract extension after July 1st.
“I love it here,” he said. “I’ve been here my whole career and I’d like to be a part of it going forward. But at the end of the day, that’s up to management and where they see this going. That’s probably a conversation for a later date. But this is the second home for me. It’s become home. I spend a lot of time here. I love the guys. I love the organization. At the end of the day, it’s a business. But I do love it here.”
Coach Jared Bednar does add that Makar and Timmins haven’t proven anything and that Barrie may not be expendable until some can take his job.