NHL Trade Rumors

" Free agent winger Fabian Brunnstrom is expected to sign a two-year contract with the Stars as soon as today, according to his agent, J.P. Barry. Brunnstrom, 23, has been pursued by about 20 teams after making the decision to come to the NHL. Barry said Brunnstrom picked the Stars because of his respect for the organization and because of the opportunity to play quickly. "

" As the Dallas Stars slammed the Maple Leafs' door on Fabian Brunnstrom, the Leafs might have been unrolling a welcome mat for Dave Nonis. Speculation is percolating that Nonis will be in Toronto early next week, possibly on Monday, for an interview with the Leafs regarding the vacant general manager's job. "

"Did the timing of the dismissal mean the Leafs had found their general manager and were allowing him to arrive without blood on his hands? Did it mean the Leafs are so far from finding Fletcher's successor that the Silver Fox realized he'd better do what he said he wouldn't – fire the coach – and get on with rebuilding the club himself? Will Fletcher run the team until Brian Burke is freed up from his contract obligations in Anaheim next summer? Will the Leafs replace the current interim with another interim, say recently deposed Vancouver GM Dave Nonis, until Burke can arrive as the saviour? And why hasn't Burke signed that extension in Duckland yet?"

" The curious timing of the firing of Paul Maurice leads only to further intrigue around the ever-intriguing and often inept Maple Leafs. Why fire Maurice now, especially after interim boss Cliff Fletcher announced at the end of the regular season that he wasn't going to make a decision on the coach -- and that the determination would be made by the new general manager? Why fire Maurice now, when the timing coincides with the Leafs asking for permission to talk to fired Vancouver GM Dave Nonis but have yet to have any meaningful conversation with him? What if Nonis, in some front-office role with the Leafs, wants Maurice to coach? What then? And what now? "

"The gang's all here: Steve Yzerman. Doug Armstrong. Bob Nicholson. Brian Burke. Even Scotty Bowman. Many of the names associated with the vacant Leaf general manager's job have come to Halifax for the world championships at some point, providing an opportunity for one-stop shopping. The Leafs' search committee, however, has not. "It does sound like a great grocery store, though," joked lawyer Gordon Kirke, who's on the committee with Leaf president Richard Peddie. Yzerman is here as Team Canada's GM, Armstrong is his assistant and Nicholson is the president of Hockey Canada."

"Intrigue continues to swirl around the Avalanche's head coaching situation. Joel Quenneville's contract with the Avalanche runs out June 30 and general manager Francois Giguere has yet to give him an extension or disavow speculation he might be thinking of a change. Meanwhile, the coaching job with the Toronto Maple Leafs became vacant Wednesday. That is the team Quenneville grew up idolizing in Windsor, Ontario. It was the first team he played for in the NHL and the organization he got his coaching start with in 1991. The man who hired Quenneville as an assistant with the St. John's Maple Leafs, is current Toronto general manager Cliff Fletcher...Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere said he won't discuss specifics regarding Quenneville's status."

"Paul Maurice is out as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and now the rumour mill can start churning, both over who's his replacement and who's the new boss. In the latter case, will that search lead back to Vancouver?...As for who might be part of that "new regime," the big rumour Wednesday was that recently fired Canucks GM Dave Nonis could be hooking up with the Leafs. TSN reported Toronto had approached Vancouver for permission to speak with Nonis. And the Canucks' response? "We do not plan on making any statement to confirm or deny the report," a team official told The Vancouver Sun."

"As anyone who's seen an Oliver Stone movie can tell you, it's now clear that Wednesday's TSN report was the first act in a sequence of events which will inevitably lead to Brian Burke and Dave Nonis reuniting in Toronto to run the Maple Leafs. I mean, who would argue differently? The crack management team at Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment has long since targeted Burke as the man who would be king of their empire. Nonis, his close confederate and former first lieutenant with the Vancouver Canucks, has recently been made available amid an equally interesting set of circumstances. Put it all together and the inescapable conclusion is Nonis has been approached to serve as a caretaker GM in Toronto while Burke completes the last year of his contract with the Anaheim Ducks."

"With his team broomed from the NHL playoffs, his contract with the Avalanche rapidly approaching its expiration date and no firm commitment from his boss, coach Joel Quenneville is sitting here in limbo. Is Coach Q done in Denver? Although Quenneville remains employed with the Avs through the end of June, general manager Francois Giguere steadfastly refuses to make a commitment on the team's coach for next season, with a coyness that keeps everybody guessing. "

"Washington Capitals management has not yet discussed next season's roster in detail, but the team is expected to pursue a contract extension with veteran Sergei Fedorov. Acquired from Columbus for a prospect at the February trade deadline, the 38-year-old pending unrestricted free agent centered each of the Capitals' top two lines down the stretch. He also played a significant role on special teams and served as a mentor to young forwards Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom. "I'm sure if [Fedorov] wants to play, and we can afford it, we'll figure it out," majority owner Ted Leonsis said this week. "

"The Maple Leafs are still waiting to hear if they have landed Swedish free-agent winger Fabian Brunnstrom. The 23-year-old had narrowed the field of suitors to four – Toronto, Dallas, Detroit and Montreal – and it was anticipated he would announce the decision on where he wants to play yesterday. But there was no definitive word. "We expect to hear in the next couple of days," Toronto's interim general manager Cliff Fletcher said. "

"Risebrough, in Tampa with the staff, has noticed the coach's frustration for some time. "When Jacques was talking about frustration, I didn't quite understand," Risebrough said Wednesday. "I know we didn't win in the playoffs, and there were times during the year that were tough. But he was frustrated because it's the coach's job to get the best out of the players. He started to say — here's the self-doubt — 'am I the right coach to coach the team?' "My answer to him is, 'Yes, you're the right coach.' Obviously, it's yes.' He's got a high bar. He has given us the level of success we've had. Players responded to him like they wouldn't have responded to anyone else. I can't think of anyone else coaching our team." "

" A player with a bad knee and without a contract would be a fool to play in a tournament, so you can't blame Pitkanen for protecting his livelihood. As for his contract talks, they haven't started yet, but Pitkanen is already taking heat for an opening offer in the $5 to $6 million range. Lowe, however, says it wasn't their opening offer, but, rather, a figure from a year ago, when they first acquired him from Philadelphia and were kicking around a long-term deal... Pitkanen is a restricted free agent, so he doesn't have a lot of options."

"The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired coach Paul Maurice, sources tell TSN. Maurice originally joined the Maple Leafs orginization June 24, 2005 as head coach of Toronto's AHL affiliate the Toronto Marlies. He was promoted to the Maple Leafs on May 12, 2006 following Pat Quinn's dismissal. Assistant coach Randy Ladouceur has also been let go. Maurice compiled a 164-76-65-22 record in two season with the Leafs, missing the playoffs both years."

"Who is Fabian Brunnstrom and why are so many NHL teams - including the Canadiens - interested in him? Brunnstrom is back home in Sweden trying to decide where he would like to play after a whirlwind North American tour. He spent two days in Montreal, visited Detroit and Denver, and talked to people in Dallas and Toronto. He has been hailed as the best hockey player not under contract to an NHL team and has attracted a lot of attention as a 23-year-old free agent. Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey said yesterday he felt Brunnstrom has the talent to play in the NHL, but a quick look at the Swede's résumé suggests this guy poses more questions than Alex Trebek."

"Jaromir Jagr ended months of playing coy and finally let his feelings be known Tuesday: He would like to finish his NHL career as a Ranger. "First I am going to talk to the Rangers - that's the No. 1 option for me," Jagr said. "I don't like to change. I feel very comfortable here, with all the people around this organization who are nice to me. "They gave me a chance to show everybody I still can play hockey. Everybody doubted me when I was playing in Washington, for whatever reason. The Rangers gave me a chance and believed in me." "

"Jaromir Jagr said yesterday that his first order of business as an impending free agent will be to talk to, "[GM] Glen [Sather] and the Rangers; that's the No. 1 option for me." Brendan Shanahan said yesterday that if he concludes he wants to continue his career next season, "This would be my first choice." "

"Jaromir Jagr walked into his future on Tuesday and sounded a little more encouraging about returning to New York. “First, I am going to talk to the Rangers,” said Jagr, an unrestricted free agent. “That’s No. 1 option for me. I don’t like to change. I feel very comfortable here, with all the people around this organization who are nice to me. They give me a chance to show everybody I still can play hockey.”"

"Forward Brendan Shanahan said he believed he could still play a 21st season, but had not decided if he would. Forward Martin Straka said he believed he would play somewhere, but his return may hinge somewhat on whether Jagr returns. Forward Sean Avery, fresh out of the hospital after sustaining a lacerated spleen in Game 3 against the Penguins, said that he would love to stay in New York but that his decision would depend on the Rangers’ offer. He broke off contract negotiations with the team in February, when the Rangers were not approaching his $4 million asking price."

"The agent for Cristobal Huet said his client enjoyed his two months in Washington and would consider re-signing with the Capitals before becoming an unrestricted free agent July 1, but he also said substantive talks on an extension have not begun. Acquired from Montreal for a second-round draft pick at the trade deadline, Huet went 11-2 with a 1.63 goals against average and a .936 save percentage during the Capitals' stretch run. The 32-year-old can probably expect to double his $2.875 million salary and, if he reaches the open market, figures to have no shortage of suitors."

" The pending unrestricted free agent, who'll turn 37 before training camp begins in September, has to bide his time waiting to find out whether he fits into the Flames' future plans. A new contract for top-line centre Daymond Langkow is expected to come to fruition soon, and the club expects Matthew Lombardi to ascend into a second-line position for the coming season. Where that leaves Conroy remains to be seen. Conroy, content with the fact he'll have to take a cut in pay from the US$2.85 million salary he received this past season and a reduced role to remain in Calgary, just has to sit and wait. "They have to figure out what they want to do and make their decisions and let me know," he said. "

"Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey has a reputation for playing it close to the vest and yesterday's post-mortem on the 2007-08 season was no exception. Gainey spoke in generalities, although he said the Canadiens would be shopping for another forward - if they went shopping. "We'll be open to trying to find another forward," said Gainey, who has been trying for several years to land that elusive power forward."

"Jacques Lemaire still hasn't decided if he will return for another season as the Wild's coach. But a decision should be coming soon. Wild management and coaches are in Tampa, Fla., for three days of meetings, which start today. On the agenda: analyzing the season, which included a division title but also a first-round playoff exit; assessing the roster and the organization as it moves forward. Lemaire? "I have to talk to [GM Doug Risebrough] and then there will be a decision made," the only coach in the team's history said Tuesday."

"Sharks Coach Ron Wilson didn't wait for the TV reporter to finish his question. All he had to hear was the premise: People are talking about your job being on the line. "That's all irrelevant," Wilson interrupted. "You look at my record. It's second to none, literally, in the sport. So I'm not even worried about that."... Because San Jose has made its playoff exit at the same point the past three years, Wilson's future with the team already is the subject of media speculation. The TV reporter recovered well enough to ask Wilson if that kind of speculation is something every coach who doesn't win the Stanley Cup should expect. "I guess it is," Wilson said. "Then 29 guys should get fired every year. And that's unreasonable.""

"A report out of Toronto on Tuesday said Sabres owner B. Thomas Golisano had discussions this winter about selling the team. But Regier shrugged off the report from the Toronto Star that focused on Golisano’s chat with Jim Balsillie, who is trying to place a team in Hamilton, Ont. “I’ve been aware [of sales talk], they’ve kept me abreast of it, and it hasn’t been any big deal to me, quite frankly, because I don’t think there’s anything there,” Regier said. The Sabres suggested Golisano is open to offers, something The Buffalo News wrote in February. "

" The formula has to change. Because the Sharks are stuck. They have been good enough to make the second round of the playoffs. But they have not been good enough to go further. For the third season in a row. They are among the NHL's top half-dozen teams. But they are not among the league's top two. For the third season in a row. Does that mean Coach Ron Wilson's job is in final jeopardy? Answer: Everything must be on the table, as the franchise attempts to get un-stuck. And that includes Wilson's status. But you still have to wonder if the Sharks would dare fire the man who owns the most NHL coaching victories since the start of the 2003-04 season."

"Billionaire Jim Balsillie contacted the owner of the Buffalo Sabres about buying the team earlier this season, a sign the Research in Motion co-founder is still seeking an NHL franchise after two previous high-profile flameouts. Balsillie phoned Sabres owner Tom Golisano around Christmas, according to a source familiar with the matter. Golisano indicated he would be open to selling the club – but not if Balsillie intended to relocate it. "

"For the first time in his professional career, Jaromir Jagr is on the brink of unrestricted free agency. In the moments following yesterday's season-ending 3-2 overtime Game 5 defeat to the Penguins, No. 68 sounded very much a man who is more than ready to control his own destiny. "This year, what's going to happen is what I want," Jagr said. "Whatever makes me happy, that's what I'm going to do."..."I'm going to talk to my parents. I'm sure they're going to give me good advice about what I should do.""

"Jaromir Jagr skated right from his final exchange of the handshake line to the door leading to the Rangers' dressing room. No final look back at the ice. No wave. No acknowledgment either way about where he goes from here. And amid the quiet of the postgame locker room, he offered no hints about his plans for next year and beyond - other than to declare that he would be the one in charge of his fate. "

"Jagr becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer and is said to be mulling over the possibility of going to Russia next season. He would have needed to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in order to trigger one more year on his contract with the Rangers. Last time we checked, they don't hand out the Smythe to players whose teams last only two rounds. Jagr would not commit to his future, other than to vow that he will play next season. Exactly where that will be, only he knows for certain. "I don't think this will be my last year," Jagr said. "

"A team that was assembled to make a run at the Stanley Cup in 2008 is now a team in transition that needs to retool. Four of the Rangers' top six wingers and two of their top six defensemen are unrestricted free agents. The defense could use size in a crease-clearer and/or a power-play quarterback."

"Although Jagr fell short of certain statistical benchmarks that would have triggered an option year on his contract with the Rangers for next season, there is the chance the team could re-sign him to a new deal this summer. One of the determining factors is whether the Rangers have the desire to invest in a player who made more than $8 million, and is coming off a disappointing 71-point regular season. But another is whether Jagr wants to remain in New York."

"After his season - and perhaps NHL career - ended abruptly with Marian Hossa's overtime goal, Jaromir Jagr's first decision was to shave off his playoff beard. The razor cuts on his neck were still bleeding when Jagr emerged from the showers and into the New York Rangers' locker room after a 3-2 overtime loss Sunday to the Penguins in Game 5 of an Eastern Conference semifinal. They weren't the only fresh wounds for Jagr, who is contemplating playing in Russia next season. If so, Jagr's NHL career ended in the same building, Mellon Arena, it started."

"The loss left the Rangers with an ominous off-season ahead. The biggest question is whether Jagr, now a free agent, will return. Shanahan and Martin Straka seem unlikely to come back to a team looking to become younger and faster. Forward Sean Avery, knocked from this series with a lacerated spleen and released from a hospital Sunday, is also an unrestricted free agent, as are defensemen Michal Rozsival, Paul Mara and Marek Malik. Jagr said he was not thinking of his future. The present was hard enough for him to take."

"Jaromir Jagr is not the only living legend who might have played his last game in a Rangers sweater yesterday. And like Jagr, 39-year-old winger Brendan Shanahan offered no immediate clues as to his plans. In fact, in keeping with his playoffs-long policy, Shanahan refused to discuss whether he even plans to play hockey next season or retire after an illustrious 20-year career. "No decisions now," Shanahan said. "

"But is it all over for good? That's the multi-million dollar question that Sundin refuses to answer, maintains he can't answer yet. "I don't even know whether I want to continue playing, put in the work that's necessary to start another season. I have to listen to my body and I'm not hearing anything yet." Nor has he heard, Sundin points out, from the Leafs about whether there's any interest in him. "They don't even have a new GM yet. Who knows if that person will want me? Shouldn't it be up to them to let me know first? I mean, it's impossible to have this conversation until other decisions are made.""

"It may be a little surprising, but defenseman Kevin Klein hopes to return to the Preds next season. Klein was the No. 8 defenseman on the Predators during 2007-08 and played in just 13 games. Predators coaches felt he wasn't good enough to crack the six- or seven-man rotation on a regular basis, but the organization feared sending Klein to Milwaukee because he might have been claimed off waivers by another team. It turned into a season of many practices and few rewards for the 23-year-old Klein, a second-round draft pick in 2003. He said the experience didn't leave him looking for a change of scenery."

"At the moment, for whatever reason, the 36-year-old Jagr is positively possessed. He has figured in on seven of the Rangers' 10 goals in the series, including five of six in Games 3 and 4. If he goes wild again today, the series might well shift back to the Big Apple for Game 6. If not, this could be Jagr's NHL curtain call. He has hinted at playing in Russia next season. I doubt he'll retire, but there is at least a chance his career could end today, in the same city where it began. And that raises a question: What kind of send-off would he warrant from Penguins fans after the post-series handshake? "

"In years past, Providence Bruins coach Scott Gordon wasn’t just patient in his quest to become an National Hockey League head coach, he was remarkably wise. He was in no hurry to make the jump...After leading the team to four consecutive winning seasons, with a good shot at the AHL Calder Cup championship this year, it may be time for some higher learning...Sources have speculated he’ll be considered by the Atlanta Thrashers, who hope to name their new coach before the NHL draft next month."

"Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere saw his team's season end Thursday night against the Detroit Red Wings, one week after the playoff series began. Giguere, in his second year at the helm, has a busy summer ahead, with 13 potential unrestricted free agents and a coach, Joel Quenneville, who has no contract for next season. On Friday, Giguere took some time out with Post hockey reporter Adrian Dater to discuss the season and what lies ahead. Q: What can you tell us about the status of Joel Quenneville's job going forward? A: Well, I won't discuss anything specific about the coaching position or player personnel moves right now."

"On the eve of his squad's final, lopsided loss to Detroit in the playoffs, Quenneville was happy to chat about everything from weird injuries suffered by his players to a dance recital for a family member. As soon as the conversation turned to his expiring contract with the Avs, however, Quenneville abruptly clammed up. Given every opportunity to say he definitely wanted to return to the Colorado bench next season, the coach politely but firmly refused. "I don't want to talk about it," Quenneville said Wednesday, as we walked behind the glass at the team's practice rink. The silence that followed was awkward. "

"When Peter Forsberg did his about-face and decided to play this season in Colorado instead of Philadelphia, the reporters who cover the Flyers breathed a sigh of relief. The Peter Forsberg who played for the Flyers was not the Forsberg we all would like to remember from the past. He was damaged goods. That's not to say he wasn't a joy to watch on the ice. He was. Many of us often wondered what it would have been like to have covered him in his prime. His skill level was remarkable. The problem was that he was out of the Flyers' lineup injured more often than he was in it...That is what happened in Philadelphia and is what happened when he returned to Colorado late this season. Forsberg's health - not his skill - was the story."

"Long before the Blue Jackets played their first game -- perhaps before they were even known as the Blue Jackets -- the McConnell family was prepared for the inevitable. The death of majority owner John H. McConnell on April 25 will not disrupt the day-to-day operations of the club, president Mike Priest said, nor will it result in an ownership shakeup or in the Blue Jackets being put up for sale. The transition of majority ownership to McConnell's son, John P., will follow a path that was mapped out as many as 10 years ago."

"Peter Forsberg did not retire Thursday night. But unless the Avalanche star can figure out what keeps ailing his 34-year-old body, he hinted after the Avs' season ended that his brilliant but injury-plagued career will be over."

"As if it wasn't apparent on April 5, Trevor Linden dropped another gigantic hint Thursday that his hockey-playing days are done. The long-time Vancouver Canuck forward, now 38, presented one of his jerseys to MLA Sindi Hawkins at a cancer fund-raising rally, telling the crowd in attendance: "She's taking over the No. 16 now." Linden has yet to announce his retirement and was coy when asked if he planned to do so in the near future."

"Should Joe stay? Or should he go?... Whatever the reason, as Sakic insisted he has made no decision about playing again for the Avs, saying "That's something that will be decided this summer," for the first time maybe there is a hint of genuine ambivalence in his desire to keep lacing 'em up. "

"A question mark continues to float over winger Darcy Tucker's future in Toronto, with indications persisting that he will be the first Leaf to be bought out of his contract once the period for buyouts opens June 15. Tucker remains in the dark about whether he will return for a ninth season in a Maple Leafs uniform this fall. And while no one from Leafs management has contacted him, it's believed the 33-year-old winger's name has already passed through the board level at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment as a leading candidate for a contract buyout."

"There's been speculation around Denver that Joe Sakic could be retiring. Sakic, 38, had two assists in the four games against the Wings and wasn't much of a factor. "I'm going to take my time, think about it over the summer," Sakic said. "It's something, obviously, I need to make a decision on. I'll discuss it with my family and see where we go." "

"Jaromir Jagr insists his motivation Thursday is as simple and immediate as it is desperate: Win or have no chance to play another hockey game this season. But with the Rangers on the brink of playoff elimination and his contract about to expire, Thursday's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Pittsburgh Penguins could become much more than the usual close-out game. It could be Jagr's last game for the Rangers and his last in the NHL. "

"I ASKED Jaromir Jagr to tell me that I was wrong, and boy did he ever. I think. I asked No. 68 if it is wrong to interpret the fire, passion and anger he's demonstrated the last two games - as exemplified by the way he twice shouted down Sidney on Crosby Sunday, then scolded Marian Hossa for diving in Game 3 before once again raging at Crosby during a third-period review - as evidence that he has made the decision to retire as an NHL player and thus sees this as a last opportunity that is irretrievably slipping away."

"Should Joe stay? Or should he go? Sure, there's no crying in hockey, even when the game hurts as badly as losing a tooth or getting swept in the NHL playoffs. But, as Avalanche captain Joe Sakic takes the ice facing elimination against those hated Detroit Red Wings, any man, woman or child who loves one of the classiest players in Colorado sports history will dab at misty eyes. Only the memories last forever. How did Sakic get to be 38 years old? He wants us to remember him as Super Joe, rather than feel sorry for an Average Joe hanging on to the glory days. "

"Vancouver isn't on Fabian Brunnstrom's travel itinerary, but that doesn't necessarily mean the Canucks are off the list of NHL teams with whom the Swedish free agent may potentially sign. Brunnstrom was reported in Dallas on Tuesday and will also be travelling to Detroit and Montreal and likely Toronto for some mutual tire kicking, as the 23-year-old forward gets down to the nitty gritty of where he will play in the NHL this fall. The Canucks were on the verge of getting Brunnstrom's name on a contract two weeks ago, but the surprise firing of GM Dave Nonis put the move on hold."

"It just might be the Vancouver Canucks have their new capologist. A blog by the Globe and Mail's Tim Wharnsby was reporting Wednesday night the Canucks are set to hire former Winnipeg Jets and Phoenix Coyotes assistant general manager Laurence Gillman, who was part of the Michael Barnett regime before it was swept out of power last summer. Canucks GM Mike Gillis, reached late Wednesday at his Vancouver home, would not confirm the hiring but said he expected an announcement shortly, which tends to indicate they have their man."

"Rob Daum might not return to the University of Alberta to coach with his three-year leave of absence over, but he's not sure if he's coming back to be an Edmonton Oilers assistant coach, either. Daum, who signed a one-year contract with the Oilers last summer when Craig Simpson left to be a Hockey Night in Canada colour commentator, is in a state of limbo. He was an injection of new blood to the coaching staff, but the NHL season's been over for three weeks and there's no indication if Daum will be rehired."

"But as he turns 31 on Canada Day it's fair to ask whether Iginla isn't becoming the new Ray Bourque, the iconic team player who has to look elsewhere for a chance at winning the Stanley Cup. He's still a peak player, but the days when he could regularly log 25 to 30 minutes a game are growing shorter."

"But Emery, who turns 26 in the fall, has done little to build up goodwill around the league. He's only played 134 NHL games and he's coming off a pedestrian 12-13-4 record with a 3.13 average and .890 save percentage. Here's the usual trade suspects: Tampa, Los Angeles, St. Louis."

"Blue Jackets defenseman Jan Hejda did not want to test the waters of free agency this summer. He said that several times this season, and now he has proved it. Hejda, 29, re-signed with the Blue Jackets, agreeing on a three-year contract worth $6 million... The club is likely to re-sign restricted free-agent defensemen Marc Methot, Aaron Rome and Clay Wilson, but, of that group, only Wilson can be considered an "offensive" defenseman, and it's unlikely the Blue Jackets would bank on him being in their top six heading into training camp."

"Sydor has a year left on his contract and, while it's hard to predict what personnel moves the Penguins will consider this summer because of salary-cap issues, there's little reason to believe he won't spend it here. For starters, he has a no-trade clause in his contract, which means he would have to approve any deal general manager Ray Shero would work out."

"In short, he pretty much has all the credentials Senators general manager Bryan Murray says he's looking for in a coach to take over his dysfunctional club. That makes Tortorella perhaps the most colourful possibility among a group of candidates that also includes fellow veteran coaches Bob Hartley, Pat Burns, Pat Quinn, and Terry Murray, Bryan's brother."

"Pat Quinn, Ottawa Senators coach. Admit it, it does have a nice ring. If he was to lead the Senators to the Stanley Cup championship in a year or two, Quinn could run for mayor in hockey country and win."

"Sources tell TSN Swedish prospect Fabian Brunnstrom is in Dallas and attended Game 3 of the Stars - San Jose Sharks Conference Semifinals with the Stars showing great interest in signing him. Brunnstrom is on a mini-North American tour, checking out the cities he is considering as potential sites to begin his NHL career. He is expected to be in Denver on Thursday for Game 4 between the Avalanche and Red Wings."

" Senators GM Bryan Murray doesn't want to return as coach after his team was swept out of the first round of the playoffs. He wants a disciplinarian behind the bench who will clamp down on the club's young players and make them accountable. Sources say Murray plans to speak with Quinn, former Atlanta coach Bob Hartley, -- a Hawkesbury native -- former New Jersey coach Pat Burns and Kitchener coach Peter DeBoer about the coaching job. If Tampa Bay's John Tortorella becomes available, he will also be on the list. "

"Not sure how many caught this little nugget coming out of the Satellite Hot Stove segment on CBC Saturday night during the second intermission of the Montreal-Philadelphia game, but Al Strachan, who works for the Sun Media outlets in Canada, stated that John Tortorella will be fired as head coach once Oren Koules gains control of the team... But the stunner was to hear that Barry Melrose, who has all of three years of NHL coaching experience and none since the 1994-95 season with Los Angeles, is Koules’ first choice for the team’s new coach."

"Q: Jaromir Jagr may be a free agent at the end of the season. Do you have any reason to think that he might be interested in coming back to the Pens?"

"You can put Bob Hartley's name on the list of candidates for the Senators' coaching job. It is expected within the next couple of weeks the Senators will ask permission of the Thrashers -- with whom Hartley is still under contract -- to speak to the Hawkesbury native, who won the Stanley Cup behind the bench of the Avalanche in 2001. Hartley was let go as coach by Thrashers GM Don Waddell after the club opened the season with six straight losses. "

"Say this about Marian Hossa, he’s not one of those guys who elevates his game to a higher level only because his contract is coming up. The way things are going for Hossa — scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent July 1 — he might be playing himself back into the Penguins’ long-term payroll plans at an affordable price."

" Poor Alex Tanguay. If the trade rumours weren't bad enough during the season, now we find the fans might actually enjoy seeing the current Calgary Flames left-winger sporting new colours next season. In our 'You Be The Boss' season review, you were asked whether you believe the 28-year-old playmaker should be dealt for more depth. A convincing 84% of the voters said yes. "

"Well, Miikka Kiprusoff may have been able to escape the media watchdogs. But he'll not be escaping the iron hand of Iron Mike. From that, short of demanding a trade, there is no parole."

"Kolzig still hasn't addressed how he was feeling to reporters. His agent Art Breeze is furious the way things went down with a player he considers "an icon" in Washington but chose his words carefully."

"Wherever he goes, off or on the ice, Avery attracts attention. There are goons and there are goofs – and we mean that in a good way, sort of. What team wouldn't want him, the way he has been playing, mixing agitation with aggression and the odd goal? The Maple Leafs could do worse in the summer free agent market."

"Good as gone (1): Glen Murray, 0-0 -0 in seven playoff games. Due $4.15 million in 2008-09 and virtually impossible to trade (offers at the Feb. 26 trade deadline weren't worth sacrificing the chance that he might score in the postseason). "

"General manager Paul Holmgren confirmed yesterday that the Flyers are one of many NHL clubs auditioning to sign Fabian Brunnstrom, the 23-year-old free-agent forward with Farjestads in the Swedish Elite League. Holmgren contacted his agent, J.P. Barry, last week."

"According to a report in Saturday's Globe and Mail, the Flyers are among eight NHL teams being considered by Swedish phenom Fabian Brunnstrom, a 23-year-old forward who has drawn comparisons to Washington Capitals rookie star Nicklas Backstrom."

"Just because the Flyers are immersed in the chase for the Stanley Cup doesn’t mean that team officials aren’t thinking about the future. When general manager Paul Holmgren was asked about unrestricted free agent Fabian Brunnstrom he replied with an emphatic, “Yes, we are very interested.”"

"Martin could select an NHL guy with years of experience such as a Pat Burns or, should they become available, San Jose's Ron Wilson or Vancouver's Alain Vigneault. Any of those three would put the team in the hands of a competent leader, letting Martin focus almost completely on his GM duties."