Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports that the Columbus Blue Jackets management will meet in person this week with two potential candidates for their head coaching vacancy. Portzline believes that the two candidates are former Minnesota Wild bench boss Dean Evason and Jay Woodcroft, who was fired last season after the Edmonton Oilers got off to a slow start.
Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell has mentioned a third candidate in the mix, but the belief is that they are on hold for right now. Waddell has also said he doesn’t want the coaching search to drag into August, which means a decision is likely in the next couple of weeks. The sides will have to work on the specifics surrounding a contract, as well as potential coaching staff, but the process should be over soon.
In other NHL notes:
- Frankie Corrado joined TSN SportsCenter to talk about Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares. Corrado was asked about Tavares’s next contract, and he believes the Maple Leafs should try and squeeze Tavares on an extension to get it under $6MM annually. Corrado adds that Tavares still puts up points, but he doesn’t drive the play and isn’t a player for whom Toronto can pay a premium. He also adds that Toronto hasn’t won anything with him and could try and use that fact, in combination with Toronto being Tavares’s hometown to keep him at a discount. Tavares is entering the final season of a seven-year $77MM contract and will count $11MM against the cap next season.
- Zach Parise spoke with Kevin Karius earlier this month on The Kevin Karius Show and discussed his retirement from the NHL. The 39-year-old revealed that he hasn’t officially filed the paperwork to retire but added that he is done playing. Parise signed with the Colorado Avalanche in January and dressed in 30 games, posting five goals and five assists while playing just shy of 13 minutes a game. Parise was a key piece in the first round of the playoffs, posting two goals in five games and filling in for Jonathan Drouin on Colorado’s second line.
Love JT, a great leader and player… it would be great to give him the Stamkos offer… $3m*8years. Keeping AAV low and giving the Captain the cash that he deserves.