Varying reports coming out of Vancouver
Elliotte Friedman: Have been hearing that there Dean Lombardi is a serious contender for an open position with the Canucks.
Satiar Shah: “Canucks ownership doesn’t move on from someone unless they have a good idea who the replacement is.” Lombardi name had come up with the Canucks before Benning got his extension.
Sportsnet 650: Elliotte Friedman: “The blow back would be fierce if Lombardi came to Vancouver and brought Slava Voynov with him.”
Rick Dhaliwal: Trevor Linden leaving the Canucks has nothing to do with Quinn Hughes decision to go pro or not. Hughes is still deciding on what he’ll be doing next season.
Jason Botchford of the Vancouver Province: It is believed that Linden had been telling Hughes’ camp that it would be best for him to go back to Michigan for another year. Some others within the organization didn’t agree with this.
Benning will meet be meeting with Hughes’ camp today.
There were other reports that ownership wanted to offer John Tavares an $85 million deal, but Linden wasn’t pitching that idea.
“Where we are at in rebuilding, I don’t know if it makes sense to have a player who makes that much money. We didn’t really pursue it.”
Rumors and notes on some of the top remaining unrestricted free agents
Luke Fox of Sportsnet: Rick Nash‘s playing future is still an unknown. If he decides to play, there will be no shortage of interested teams.
Have been some reports that the Chicago Blackhawks have shown some level of interest in defenseman Luca Sbisa.
Toby Enstrom will have options outside of the NHL if a deal can’t be found.
The Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators could be fits for Mark Letestu as a third or fourth line option.
A report has Mike Cammalleri getting some KHL interest from coach Bob Hartley with Avangard Omsk.
A week ago the 36-year old Scott Hartnell was on ESPN radio and noted that he may be headed towards retirement.