While the Canucks are still considering several different options to fill their head coaching vacancy, TSN’s Darren Dreger reports (Twitter link) that Travis Green, the bench boss at their AHL affiliate in Utica, remains the front runner for the job. He adds that more interviews will be held this week.
Green recently completed his fourth season with the Comets, his only coaching experience at the professional level. He has interviewed for NHL jobs in recent years though obviously he hasn’t been able to land a spot yet. Green is no stranger to the NHL game though, having played parts of 14 seasons with five different organizations before retiring in 2007.
Of course, Green isn’t the only coach that has been linked to Vancouver as earlier today, it was reported that one of the others being considered is former Edmonton coach Ralph Krueger.
Other news from the Western Conference:
- Blues center Paul Stastny returned to practice on Tuesday, Tom Timmermann and Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch note. Head coach Mike Yeo had him skating with the third line and was pleased with his progress: “I thought he was skating well. I thought he was involved in every drill and conditioning didn’t look like an issue and timing and execution didn’t look like it was an issue either.” With St. Louis comfortably up 3-0 in their series against the Wild, they can afford to take their time with their top center so it doesn’t seem likely that he’ll be back in the lineup in what could be the clinching game tomorrow night.
- The looming expansion draft is going to result in some notable players hitting the trade market and one of those could be Stars center Cody Eakin, suggests Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News. He notes that as things stand, Eakin may be forced to shift to the wing for next season, a position he hasn’t had as much success at in the past. Accordingly, it may make sense for GM Jim Nill to try to move him in advance of the draft which would free up another protection slot up front to work with. Eakin is coming off a tough year with just 12 points in 60 games but had at least 35 in each of the past three years which may be enticing to other teams around the league.
Stars Expose 1 of the Goalies and LV takes that Goalie.
Stars then deal Eakin, Johns/ Nemith and whoever the other Goalie is to LV for nothing. Stars open up a lot of cap space in that.
LV fills up cap space at Goalie and they could even flip one of the goalies and eat part of the contract.
Stars clear out cap space to go after Bishop
Why would LV take both of Dallas’ crappy goalies off their hands for them? Particularly when there will be other options available that are better?
It’d be a blessing to get literally anything for eakin to to get rid of his contract
I get you about clear Eakins Cap Hit but he is a solid player. I think he had some bad luck and injuries him as well. He is a good 2nd line C
LV has to take on a certain amount of money during the Expansion Draft.
With both Goalies have 2 years left (This up coming then the following) LV could have that spot filled.
Also, both could be picked up by LV then they eat a portion of the contract and then deal 1 of them to someone for prospects/picks.
Also, Eakin had a down year but he is a good player. LV could get solid C in the process and something else if they help clear cap space for dallas.