- Stephen Whyno CP in the Globe and Mail: Ten candidates to replace Randy Carlyle in Toronto: Peter DeBoer, Mike Babcock, Dan Bylsma, Todd McLellan, Peter Horachek, Dale Hunter, Steve Spott, Paul MacLean, Kevin Dineen and Dallas Eakins.
- Steve Simmons: Source saying the Maple Leafs will wait until the season is over to name a permanent head coach.
- Ken Campbell: Don’t rule out Guy Boucher as a coaching candidate for the Leafs.
- Rich Chere: The Devils would allow the Maple Leafs to talk to Peter DeBoer.
- Damien Cox: People will be looking at Mike Babcock, but Bruce Boudreau should be watched if the Ducks don’t get out of the second round. Boudreau is a Toronto guy.
- Darren Dreger: The Leafs will start to review potential coaching candidates immediately, but there has been no timeline established for hiring their new head coach.
- Andy Strickland: Have been told that Red Wings GM Ken Holland won’t pay Mike Babcock more money based on the success of coaching the all-star teams in the Olympics as it doesn’t apply to the NHL. Babcock wants to be the highest paid coach and is using his Olympic success in contract negotiations.
- Oilers Now: Red Wings GM Ken Holland: “We’ve been looking for a right shot defenceman since the summer. If the right one becomes available we would be interested.”
- Sportsnet: Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis: “Players are movable. None have full-moves. If there’s a move that makes us better we’ll look to do it.”
- Sportsnet 590 the Fan: Nick Kypreos on Hockey Central at Noon: “I believe that they try to move Kessel”
- TSN 1050 Radio: Darren Dreger: “If the Leafs don’t believe they can win with this core, what is the point in holding on to them?”
- Damien Cox: The Leafs have about a month to figure out if they will make a run for the playoffs or start to move out players to help improve their draft slot.
- Dennis Bernstein: Joffrey Lupul could be first Maple Leafs ‘core’ player moved in the offseason.
- Dennis Bernstein: (answering question) The Kings and Wild are more likely to talk about Martin Jones at the draft as opposed to in-season. Jones will be a RFA.
- Jim Matheson: Wonders what the Oilers will do with Nail Yakupov who has only one goal in the past two months, and only two points in his last 25 games.
- Dave Stubbs: Scouting the Canadiens-Lightning last night: Wild, Blackhawks, Penguins, Flames, Dallas, Islanders, Predators, Blues, Oilers, Capitals and Canucks (2).
- Nichols on Hockey: McKenzie on potential interest in Ryan O’Reilly.
“The only thing I know of what’s going on in Colorado now is what I read over the Christmas break and there have been suggestions out of Denver that Ryan O’Reilly is available. And if he is, that’ll generate huge interest. It really will. Because the Avalanche aren’t having a great year. O’Reilly is not having a great year. And yet he’s one of those players who general managers really covet because they think he’s got a ridiculous hockey IQ, tremendous competitive instincts and does have the ability not to be a high-end offensive player, but to be a top-two line center that can play the 200-foot game as well as anybody in the NHL.”
- Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch: The Blues currently don’t have a roster number issue, so they are in no rush to make a decision on moving out Martin Brodeur. Though both Jake Allen and Brian Elliott have been supportive of having Brodeur around, both have brought up the limited practice reps they are getting.