Two potential Hextall replacements in Philadelphia
Darren Dreger: Potential GM replacements for the Philadelphia Flyers after they fired Ron Hextall yesterday include Chuck Fletcher and Ron Francis.
Pierre LeBrun: (as of early yesterday afternoon) Philadelphia hasn’t approached the Carolina Hurricanes for permission to speak with Ron Francis, but it is obviously early in the process.
Sam Carchidi: It wouldn’t be a surprise if the new Flyers GM didn’t clean house with their coaching staff. wonders if Hextall was fired because he refused to fire head coach Dave Hakstol.
Panarin’s agent meets with Kekalainen and Zito but they may not have spoken about Panarin.
Aaron Portzline of The Athletic: Over the weekend in Detroit, Dan Milstein, Artemi Panarin’s agent met with Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen and assistant GM Bill Zito.
The meeting was reportedly not about Panarin but Milstein’s other clients in KHL defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and AHLer Nikita Korostelev, among others.
Sources did say that Panarin and Milstein initiated the meeting in Detroit.
Panarin still hasn’t shown the Blue Jackets that he wants to sign an extension, and the Blue Jackets remain hopeful that he does.
Milstein expects to meet up with Panarin next month in Columbus.
“We would sit down for business as soon as Artemi is ready,” Milstein told The Athletic on Monday. “He is genuinely happy with the way things are going this season.
“We will talk business during his break. For now, no pressure from the club. It’s all about winning.”
Kekalainen has said he hasn’t held any Panarin trade talks in weeks. Any offers they received on Panarin before then wouldn’t be helping this season – mostly futures.