On the Arizona Coyotes …
Chris Nichols: Pierre LeBruun on 1290 radio last week on Shane Doan: “I think this’ll be it this year for him. He hasn’t announced that, but that’s just my own gut feeling.”
On the Edmonton Oilers …
Chris Nichols: Bob McKenzie was on SiriusXM radio and was asked if the Edmonton Oilers were trying to sign Leon Draisaitl to a contract extension: “Well, I haven’t heard anything in-season here.” … “Next to McDavid, he’s the most important player on the team, I would think, just in terms of stature and contracts.” … “It’s a no-brainer they’ll get him done…”
On the Buffalo Sabres …
Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News: There is growing concern regarding their coach’s game management and the roster moves made by their GM.
The Sabres sit 29th in scoring with 70 goals in 33 games. They are 12-13-8 and are boring.
GM Tim Murray’s trade for Dmitry Kulikov is looking bad and he gave up a first round pick for goalie Robin Lehner. He over paid for Evander Kane and Zach Bogosian.
The Sabres could use another NHL caliber defenseman.
On the Winnipeg Jets …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Bob McKenzie on TSN 1040 last week was asked about the Winnipeg Jets and head coach Paul Maurice’s future with the organization. McKenzie said he has no knowledge of Maurice’s job security right now, but he doesn’t think the coach’s job is in jeopardy. Now, they could continue to keep losing and don’t get the sense that they feel he’s lost the team.
“I think what they look at is they say, ‘You know what? We’re a really young team. We’re a team that’s faced an extraordinary number of injuries. We’re a team that in the pantheon of really difficult scheduling this season’ – and most teams are complaining about it – but the Jets might be the most extraordinarily (badly-scheduled) in terms of fatigue and back-to-backs and crazy travel and more games on the road than at home, and all of that stuff.
“So I’m not going to fuel the Paul Maurice rumors A) because I don’t have any knowledge, and B) my opinion is so far in the opposite direction that in spite of what’s happening with the Jets, I just think they’re a really young team, and they’ve had a lot of injuries, and they’ve had a tough schedule.
“I think they need to bite down hard and get through this stretch and keep their coach, because he’s a good coach and he doesn’t deserve to be fired.”