"Craig MacTavish has been behind a desk almost every night on TSN's playoff panel, but the former Edmonton Oilers coach would rather be behind a bench.

MacTavish has been interviewed by Minnesota Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher for their vacant head coach job. It's only the preliminary stage in Fletcher's plan to find a new coach, but MacTavish was also in the running two years ago when Fletcher went for a younger face, Todd Richards.

MacTavish, who coached the Oilers from 2000-09, got his master's degree in business from Queen's University late last year, and he has worked for TSN for the past two seasons. But he's a coach first.

"I took a break and I'm recharged and want to get back into it," said MacTavish, without naming where. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity, but the opportunities are few and far between in this business. If it turns into an opportunity for me (somewhere), we'll see."

Along with Minnesota, there are coaching vacancies with the Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers. The Senators and Panthers are rebuilding situations, which probably wouldn't appeal to MacTavish. The others are Stanley Cup contending teams.

Washington coach Bruce Boudreau is also on the hot-seat after the Capitals went out four straight to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 2, but Caps GM George McPhee said Thursday he has no plans to let his coach go. However, owner Ted Leonsis might have something to say on the matter, too.

Richards was fired after his second season in Minnesota, with a year left on his contract. It's expected Fletcher will hire somebody with a longer NHL resume this time around, although Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach Mike Haviland's name has come up repeatedly."