- Darren Dreger of TSN: If the Oilers don’t get Babcock, they could look towards Claude Julien if he’s let go, Todd McLellan, Todd Nelson and maybe one more candidate. Not expected to be on the list are Ken Hitchcock, Paul MacLean and Randy Carlyle.There is lots of speculation and talk over what the Maple Leafs will do with Dion Phaneuf and Phil Kessel. It is likely that they will try to move both players. Some think Kessel’s poor play this year and his contract are immovable. On GM thinks the Leafs can get a first round pick, a top young players and a really good prospect for Kessel. GM adds the Leafs have the cap space to take on a bad contract which would help increase the return.
The Red Wings and Kings are expected to be among the teams making a pitch for Phanuef. The Wings see Phaneuf as decent second-pairing defenseman at around $5 million per. To off-set Dion’s $7 million, would likely mean Stephen Weiss heading to Toronto. Sounds like a deal the Leafs should make if it includes Brendan Smith, Teemu Pulkkinen or Anthony Mantha.
- Ansar Khan of MLive: After suffering multiple concussion, with the latest occurring back on January 6th, Red Wings Johan Franzen hopes to continue playing. GM Ken Holland doesn’t know about Franzen’s future.
“I don’t think anybody knows,” Holland said Friday, following the team photo. “When you’re dealing with people that have concussions, and he has a bit of a history, that’s a decision that’ll be determined between Mule and Dr. (Jeffrey) Kutcher (director of the University of Michigan Neurosport Program).”
Franzen was working towards joining the Wings if they advanced a little further in the playoffs, but he suffered a setback, and they were eliminated. If he retires, the Wings will be faced with a cap recapture penalty. It’s more likely that if he can’t play, they’d put him on the LTIR.
- Ted Kulfan: Red Wings GM Ken Holland said that Petr Mrazek and Jimmy Howard will battle for the No. 1 job.
- Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area: (mailbag) Would think that the Sharks are looking for a goalie who is in his mid-to-late 20’s that could be with the team for several seasons. Options that they could consider include: Scott Darling or Antti Raanta (CHI), Jonathan Bernier (TOR), Dustin Tokarski (MON), Cam Talbot (NYR), Robin Lehner (OTT), Nicklas Svedberg (BOS) and Michal Neuvirth (NYI – UFA). If looking for less experienced, could look at Philipp Grubauer (WSH), Malcolm Subban (BOS), Andrey Vasilevskiy or Kristers Gudlevskis (TB). If looking for over 30, Corey Crawford or Jimmy Howard could be made available, though Kurz doesn’t see them going in that direction.
- Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquireri: Flyers chairman Ed Snider didn’t want to comment on Mike Babcock or the Flyers coaching search, but said the decision is up to GM Ron Hextall and they’ll support it.
“This is Ron Hextall’s bailiwick, not mine,” Snider said in a phone interview Friday from his California home. “He’s the guy who is going to make the decision. If Ron Hextall decided he wanted to hire a certain person and I told him he couldn’t, then I shouldn’t have Ron Hextall as my GM, right?
“I don’t ever veto a GM’s choice,” he added. “It’s my job to be informed and I ask a lot of questions, but don’t bring me into the coach’s decision.”