"With the search for Todd Richards' replacement nearing a conclusion, a decision may have been slowed Wednesday when the coach considered the frontrunner for the job agreed to an interview with Winnipeg.

Craig MacTavish, whom the Star Tribune reported Monday visited Minnesota last week to meet for a second time with the Wild general manager and tour Xcel Energy Center, was to be interviewed by Winnipeg General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff either Wednesday night or Thursday.

MacTavish spent eight years behind the Edmonton Oilers' bench and coached the Oilers to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals. He also won four Stanley Cups as a player. He has been considered the leading candidate to replace Richards, who was fired in April.

Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher declined to comment about MacTavish's meeting with Winnipeg, but MacTavish still appears to be the man the Wild's eyeing.

"I'm getting a lot closer, for sure, [to a hire]," Fletcher said. "I'm much, much closer to the end.""