On Coaches, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Islanders, Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights …
Chris Nichols: Bob McKenzie: “I don’t see any scenario at this point where Jon Cooper is in trouble w/ the #TBLightning.”
Joe Smith: McKenzie’s comments are consistent with what has been saying. Coach Jon Cooper isn’t on the hot seat. GM Steve Yzerman has told the Tampa Bay Times that Cooper has been doing an “excellent job.”
Arthur Staple: Hearing that former Islanders coach Jack Capuano is in Vegas this week and is meeting with management this week.
Andy Graziano: Both the Florida Panthers and NY Islanders are publicly backing their current interim coaches. Though can’t see them not wanting to talk to Claude Julien at some point.
George Richards: As Bob McKenzie reported, the Panthers will ask the Bruins permission to speak with Julien, but it won’t until the offseason.
Harvey Fialkov: Panthers coach/GM Tom Rowe said that he’s loving the coaching gig and will be evaluated this offseason.
Jimmy Murphy: Claude Julien isn’t going to rush into anything from the reports is heading. Vegas doesn’t seem like a fit.
Jimmy Murphy: Two sources saying that Julien has already received two job offers. Can’t say which teams made the offers. Can’t see him coaching in Vegas.
On the New York Islanders …
Arthur Staple of Newsday: (mailbag) thinks the New York Islanders will be sellers by the trade deadline. They wouldn’t get good value for Ryan Strome at the moment. There won’t be a lot of teams interested in defenseman Dennis Seidenberg. Goaltender Jaroslav Halak will be available regardless of where they sit in the standings.
The Islanders do have some depth on the blueline. If they are happy with the progress of Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock, and think they both can handle regular play, they could look to move Calvin de Haan.
thinks the Islanders are still really interested in Matt Duchene.
They could look to add someone for their middle-six, their second or third lines, as opposed to a winger for John Tavares.
There won’t be any hometown discounts for Tavares. If there is a contract extension coming for him this offseason, it will be for eight years and round $85 million.
hasn’t heard anything from the inside regarding the Islanders considering trading Travis Hamonic. Think that it’s not a 100 percent “no” anymore, like it was in the past. Can’t see Hamonic getting traded before the deadline, but it’s possible in the offseason.