- Tim Riday of CSN Philly: The Flyers have lots of depth on the blueline, some promising prospects, but they lack a true No. 1 defenseman. They are mediocre and full of bottom-pair blueliners. Michael Del Zotto was one of a few puck moving defenseman they have and he was benched for 11 of 14 games in December. He finished the season with 32 points in 64 games. GM Ron Hextall has admitted that he needs to upgrade his blueline. They currently have seven defenseman under contract for next season – Mark Streit, Nicklas Grossmann, Nick Schultz, Radko Gudas, Brandon Manning, Andrew MacDonald and Luke Schenn, and they plan on re-signing RFA Del Zotto. They have prospects in Travis Sanheim, Sam Morin, Robert Hagg and Shayne Gostisbehere, but they won’t be rushed or used as trade bait.
- Damien Cox: If the Oilers are going to pursue Todd McLellan, they should have the decency to let Todd Nelson go first. Elliotte Friedman: Betting the Oilers would like to have Nelson be the lead assistant coach if everything works out. Damien Cox: Makes sense, but why would Nelson want to take a demotion.
- Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun: Todd McLellan earlier this week.
“I would like to coach a great group of hockey players next year,” McLellan said Monday at a press conference announcing a ‘mutual parting’ with the Sharks. “Connor McDavid, everybody is talking about him and his ability to come and have an impact.
“(But) one thing that I’ve learned is you can have the best player and still not have the best team. It’s about team. It’s about a group. It’s about the whole organization, the culture of the organization.”
Don’t count on a McLellan decision until after Mike Babcock has decided his future. Money alone might not be enough for the Maple Leafs to land Babcock if he becomes a free agent. The Flyers and Sabres will be interested, possibly the Oilers. The Leafs will talk to Peter Chiarelli about their vacant GM position to see what he is thinking.
“We’re really just creating lists and getting our ducks in a row,” Shanahan said Saturday before leaving for the world under-18 championships in Switzerland. “That will be a bit of a lengthier process because there are a lot of people. It will change in the coming weeks, depending on what happens with certain teams.
“I’ve reached out to certain teams. It’s just going through a process as a courtesy.”
- Randy Miller of NJ.com: Flyers AHL head coach Terry Murray’s contract is expired. He isn’t a candidate for their head coaching position, but he’d like to return as their assistant coach. Murray also wouldn’t mind another shot at a head coaching position in the NHL. Over 15 seasons as a head coach in the NHL, he has a record of 499.385-89-41.
“Hexy and I … our relationship is really good. We were coach/player (in Philadelphia). We were coach/assistant GM in LA. We worked very well together. I have a great respect for Hexy and I know he’s going to do a wonderful job with the Flyers. He’s going to take his time and look around, in my opinion, and find somebody who he’s not as familiar with as me. I don’t think that would be the right thing for him to do, either. Again, I’ve been through there and it’s just not right thing.”