On the Los Angeles Kings …
John Hoven: Ontario Reign (AHL) coach Mike Stothers interviewed with the Kings and has decided to stay with Ontario. There will be more interviews next week.
On the Dallas Stars …
Sean Shapiro of the Wrong Side of the Redline: (mailbag) After GM Jim Nill‘s comments that he’s open to trading the No. 3 pick in the draft for an established player … It may not be in a one-for-one trade and may be part of a bigger deal to fill a position of need. There could be a long list of teams interested. Nill’s comments could have been made to create a market for the pick. doesn’t think that Nill has made calls looking for specific players. Things should pick up towards the end of the month. He could be looking for a right wingers or defensemen as part of the deal for the pick.
thinks the Stars will protect Antoine Roussel and will try to trade Cody Eakin before the expansion draft.
On the St. Louis Blues …
Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: (mailbag) Blues GM Jim Rutherford would like to add an elite center, but that isn’t easy to do.
wouldn’t be surprised if they were in on Lightning winger Jonathan Drouin or Oilers winger Jordan Eberle. Would be a surprise if the Blues went after Avalanche center Matt Duchene. Rutherford may move draft picks, prospects and maybe an established player, but he’s not going to give up Colton Parayko or Robby Fabbri.
If they were able to lose a salary like Jori Lehtera in the expansion draft, that would open up some more options.
The Blues will protect Vladimir Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz, Alex Steen, Paul Stastny, Patrik Berglund and Vladimir Sobotka. The remaining spot will come from one of David Perron, Ryan Reaves, Dmitrij Jaskin, Jori Lehtera and Kyle Brodziak. thinks they may protect Jaskin from that group.
On the New York Islanders …
Arthur Staple of Newsday: The Islanders added Luke Richardson to Doug Weight‘s staff this past week. Weight is looking to bring in two other assistants.
Sources saying after the draft Kelly Buchberger is expected to join the Islanders coaching staff. Buchberger is still with the Oilers.
Scott Gomez could also be brought in to help run the Islanders power play.
Bob Corkum won’t be back and the status for Greg Cronin isn’t known.