- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: Red Wings GM Ken Holland will meet with Jeff Blashill later this week. Currently Blashill is the only candidate for the Red Wings.
“I’ve had some people reach out to me,” Holland told the Free Press today, “but as of right now, I haven’t expanded the list.”
If Holland wants Blashill as their next head coach, a formal announcement wouldn’t come until Grand Rapids are finished their season.
- Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province: Pending Bruins UFA Matt Bartkowski has been on the Canucks radar as a potential free agent signing this offseason.The Canucks were kicking tires on him before the trade deadline when Kevin Bieksa was out, but the asking price was too high for them. Bartkowski didn’t have a good season, and is coming off a one-year, $1.25 million deal.It’s still not known if the Canucks will ask Bieksa or Dan Hamhuis to waive their no-trade clauses this offseason.
They will re-sign RFA Yannick Weber. Frank Corrado and Adam Clendenning are RFAs and could work their way into the Canucks top-eight. RFA Ryan Stanton may now be expendable.
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: Stars pending UFA Patrick Eaves only got into 47 games last season due to injuries – fractured ankle and a concussion. Eaves was a bargain last year at $650,000 and could get plenty of interest if he hits the open market. The Stars are interested in re-signing him and will probably get a deal done. Heika guessing they’ll do a one- or two-year deal.
- Gare Joyce of Sportsnet: The Canadiens are holding onto an asset that is rapidly depreciating in Zach Fucale. It is a buyers market on Fucale now. Teams that could be in the market for a goaltending prospect like Fucale include the Maple Leafs, Sabres and Oilers.
- Bruce McCurdy of the Edmonton Journal: The Oilers have signed 2013 draft pick Anton Slepyshev to an entry-level deal. He would likely start the year in the AHL, possibly teaming up with former World Junior teammate Bogdan Yakimov.