- Luke Fox of Sportsnet: Jaromir Jagr to the Czech Sport Daily.
“The chances that I will sign new contract with Florida are pretty good,” Jagr, 43, told the European outlet Tuesday.
With the Panthers missing the playoffs, Jagr is considering playing for the Czech Republic at the World Championships, which are being held in Prague and Ostrava.
“I will join the team, it is not certain that I will play at the championships,” Jagr told the Sport Daily. First, he’d like to speak with Czech manager Vladimir Ruzicka, who was Jagr’s teammate on the 1998 Olympic gold medal team. “I will prepare and we will see how it all works out.”
- Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun: Like all Maple Leafs, Tyle Bozak is aware of all the rebuild talks surrounding the team. His name has come up in trade rumors in the past, and will likely come up again this offseason.
“It could be any time — at the (trade) deadline or in the summer time, any time I’ve been here,” Bozak said on the prospect and talk of being moved. “I really don’t think about that. Whatever happens, happens.”
Bozak sounds like he wants to remain with the Leafs.
“It’s been a blessing that I’ve been able to stick with the Leafs the whole time,” Bozak said. “Hopefully it can stay like that for more years. It’s been a good group since I’ve been here. Some of us have been here longer than others and obviously we have lost some great guys.
“I think there’s a lot of great players in this room and a lot of players you can build a team around. But it’s out of our hands. It’s up to management to decide what they want to do.”
Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun: It’s likely the only chance Chris Neil gets back into the Senators lineup this season is if they make the playoffs. Neil has one year left on his contract, but there is a chance that he won’t be back. Teams called the Senators at the trade deadline about Neil’s availability, and may do so again this offseason.
“That’s out of my control. (To be back) is my goal,” Neil said Tuesday morning. “This is what I know. I was drafted here, and it would be awesome to play my whole career here.”
- Greg Wyshynski: Looking at coaches that could be fired this offseason.
Good as gone – Peter Horachek (TOR) and Ted Nolan (BUF).Out of playoffs, out of job? Craig Berube (PHI) and Todd McLellan (SJ).
On the bubble – Mike Johnston (PIT) and Claude Julien (BOS).
In the playoffs, but potentially out of a job – Bruce Boudreau (ANA) and Ken Hitchcock (STL).
Those weird-ass situations – Todd Nelson (EDM) and Lou Lamoriello (NJ).
Free Agents – Mike Babcock (DET) and Dave Tippett (ARI).
- Terry Jones: Kings Martin Jones auditioning for the Oilers last night? Darren Dreger: Like Jones, but the Oilers need a more proven goalie next year to avoid criticism.
- Twitter talk between Mark Spector and Damien Cox.
Spector: “Martin Jones in goal for LAK tonight. Prediction: He, or Cam Talbot start season opener here at Rexall, in darks, come Oct.”
Cox: “Makes sense. But only if EDM finally willing to part with one of its young assets?”
Spector: “Not for a young, semi-proven goalie. Draft picks. Pit’s 1st perhaps, + something.”
Cox: “You get what you pay for. Well, mostly.”
Spector: “I like both Jones and Talbot, but is either a proven No. 1? Bernier deal a prime example.”
Cox: “Difficult to get a good read on Bernier. Team so leaky in front of him.”
- Rob Rossi: Wondering if the Penguins next home game will be the final home game of the Sidney Crosby-Evgeni Malkin era.