College free agent Jobst likely to sign this week
Mike McMahon: Have been told that Ohio State forward Mason Jobst is expected to sign an entry-level deal early this week.
Mike McMahon: Teams to key an eye on are probably the New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs.
College free agent Sturm has multiple offers
Mike McMahon: Have been told that it’s “highly likely” that Clarkson forward Nico Sturm will sign an entry-level deal and forgo his senior season. He has multiple offers.
Mike McMahon: The Ottawa Senators could be a team to watch here.
Michael Russo: The Minnesota Wild are going hard after Sturm. If they are able to sign him, they’d bring him in right away and burn a year on the deal.
Rick Dhaliwal: Not hearing that Vancouver Canucks are the number one favorites to sign Sturm.
Crawford a serious candidate for a permanent position
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion has a list of potential head coaching candidates. They won’t talk to anyone until after the season and exit interviews are conducted.
Eugene Melnyk is looking to bring a president of hockey operations, but it shouldn’t have any effect on the coaching position.
Interim head coach Marc Crawford has definitely emerged as a serious candidate for the coaching position. Their AHL coach in Belleville, Troy Mann, will also get consideration.
The Senators will be looking for some that can continue to develop their young players.
Senators president of hockey ops search
Sportsnet: Nick Kypreos said that Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk is talking to people around the league, asking for help, about the Senators vacant president of hockey operations. Trevor Linden is one person who appears to have been contacted about the position.
“Now, there’s not going to be a shortage of people who want this job – that lineup is going to be around the block – but where it gets interesting is the type of person that they’re able to attract,” Kypreos said. “Is he experienced? The credibility? Is he going to want a certain amount of security, including money, term and power to make decisions? I think that’s when that list gets awfully short.”
Chris Johnston adds that there may not be many ‘highly qualified’ people being linked to the Senators position.
“They’re gonna find somebody eventually, but it’s been awfully quiet given that they’re a couple weeks into this search.”