- Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: Thinking Mike Babcock will remain in Detroit. Todd McLellan could intrigue the Maple Leafs if he becomes available. There are Peter DeBoer connections. Dale Hunter didn’t enjoy dealing with the media in Washington, so it’s hard to see him enjoying it in Toronto.
There was chatter that the Bruins were closing in on a deal for Coyotes Antoine Vermette, but via email, GM Peter Chiarelli denied it. Chiarelli also put cold water on Milan Lucic trade rumors.
Blue Jackets Nick Foligno’s new deal has a no-movement clause to protect him from waivers. He also has a no-trade clause for the first four years and a partial no-trade for the final two years.
While he was the GM of the Hurricanes, Jim Rutherford tried to trade for David Perron while he was with the Blues.
A couple sources saying the Wild are not counting on Josh Harding playing again this year.
Both the Wild and Sabres are denying talks about Jhonas Enroth. GM Chuck Fletcher has said there won’t be any costly short-term fixes. Sabres GM Tim Murray said there have been no calls on either of his goalies.
- Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times: The short-term plan for the Lightning defense without Radko Gudas will be to see what the younger players can do. GM Steve Yzerman said that looking outside the organization for a defenseman is worth exploring, but added that “currently that type of opportunity isn’t out there at this time.”
“Top-four (defensemen) are extremely hard to find,” Yzerman said. “Teams aren’t giving them away, aren’t trading them, either.”
- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Senators GM Bryan Murray will have the final say if they give Todd Bertuzzi an AHL, 25-game tryout. The 40-year old Bertuzzi has been skating in Detroit and has had the odd practice with Guelph of the OHL.
- TSN Insider Trading: Dreger: Mike Babcock isn’t looking for another project and unlikely to end up in Toronto.
Panel: top coaching candidates for the Maple Leafs: Babcock, Julien, McLellan, DeBoer, MacLean, Bylsma, Horachek, Dineen, Spott.
LeBrun: Claude Julien could become available if the Bruins don’t turn things around. Change could come in San Jose as well.
Dreger: the Maple Leafs talked to a Western Conference team in the offseason about Dion Phaneuf, and could possibly revisit it. There are no untouchables in Toronto.