TSN is claiming that Wilson is on his way to Toronto to meet with Cliff Fletcher to finalize the contract. Although nothing has been confirmed by Fletcher or Wilson, Fletcher already said that he offered the job to someone ans is waiting for an answer.

If Wilson is to go to Toronto, than they better become a good team next season! Ron is a very coach and is probably the best one the Sharks have ever had in recent years. No coach in Sharks history has ever collected as many wins as Wilson did (206). But Most importantly, no one ever brought the Sharks to more playoffs games than Wilson (52) and I believe that is what makes him a perfect candidate for Toronto. The Leafs fans are not going to accept missing the playoffs next season and if Wilson can’t bring them there, who can?

If the rumor happens to be true, than it should be announced as early as today or tomorrow.

Personally, I hope it’s true, because as much as I don’t like the Maple Leafs, I do want every team in the NHL to be competitive (I think Wilson can do that fro them), therefore giving every hockey fan something good to watch every night.

Babcock has been the Wings’ coach for three years now and he has managed to keep the team on top of the NHL by leading it over 100 points and 50 wins every year. Babcock said in a press conference on Sunday that he wasn’t going anywhere away from Detroit. The contract is expected to be done with right after the Stanley Cup final is over. Ken Holland, Detroit’s GM, claims that the contract is close to being finalized and only little details are left to discuss and he expects the whole thing to be done after only one meeting.

It’s no surprise to anyone that Babcock wants to stay in Detroit, and it’s even less surprising that the team definitely wants to have him back for many more seasons to come. If Babcock was to become available for other teams looking for someone behind their bench, I’m sure teams like Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa would’ve done anything to try to sign a guy like him.

Mike Babcock led his team to the President Trophy this season and is now one game away of bringing the Stanley Cup back to motor city. Will he succeed? One thing’s for sure, if he does, his contract might get even juicier…

Many newspapers columnists have been writing and claiming that the hiring of Melrose, which apparently involves a two years/two millions contract, should be announced in the following days or week. Melrose commented the rumor to the Toronto Star by making the following clear: nothing has changed for him in the past ten years, he’s been approached by NHL teams every year since he joined ESPN, he does want to coach again in the NHL, but he loves his job at ESPN.

So if he’s not coaching the Lightning next season, who is? And where is Tortorella going to end up? Jobless? I could very well picture a guy like Tortorella, tough as he is, coaching a team like the Senators…

One thing is certain in all of this, Tortorella is said to not being appreciated by the players and the Lightning’s new owner, and another is said to be true, new owner Oren Koules is looking for someone to replace John Tortorella. But not just anyone. Someone that could be able to sell hockey very well in a place like Florida. If, and that’s a big if, the rumor happens to be true and kept secret, it should be announced to the public once and for all as soon as the sale of the Lightning is approved, which is set to happen on June 18th.

It’s always easy to point at a coach when a team fails as dismally as the Lightning did this season. Hell, they’re only a few years removed from winning the Stanley Cup (2004)! This year, they managed to finish dead last in the NHL. In fact, since the lockout ended (the lockout was the season following their championship), the Lightning have struggled for two playoff berths before their plunge into the league cellar this year.

So, has Tortorella lost the room? What is the reason for a sudden, covert coaching change, assuming it happens?

Tortorella is notorious for being a hard-liner, often in conflict with his players. A few seasons ago, it looked like he may have alienated Vincent Lecavalier, to the point where trade rumours were floated almost daily. The two apparently made peace, but it is possible that Tortorella simply isn’t getting the most out of his players anymore.

But, on the other side of the coin, one has to consider Tampa’s woeful goaltending situation this past season. They started with the tandem of Johan Holmqvist and Marc Denis, who might well be considered a pair of backups on any other team. Neither looked particularly comfortable in the starter’s role, and neither met with much success. It got to the point where prospect Karri Ramo was inserted into 22 games as the go-to guy, also without great results.

A third factor that people point to is the absence of Dan Boyle, who only played 37 games after having wrist surgery. Boyle is viewed as a very solid puck-moving defenceman, and his absence definitely didn’t help the Bolts, but to attribute their failure this season to his absence is a bit of a stretch.

In reality, the Lightning’s awful season was due to a combination of all of the above, and that necessitates change.

Tortorella will have no trouble finding a job, and Barry Melrose can hop back behind the bench of a team that isn’t very good, just like in the old days of his Billy Ray Cyrus mullet.

Now, let’s take a look at who is out there, and who is looking for a coach.

• Toronto Maple Leafs: The Leafs canned GM John Ferguson Jr. and coach Paul Maurice, and had high hopes of luring in a big name to take charge of both the GM and coaching roles. However, to date they have been rebuked in most of their efforts, save for a multi-day interview with former Canucks’ GM Dave Nonis. In terms of a coach, there hasn’t been much said. Realistically, this could be a great fit for Tortorella, as the Leafs are in desperate need of a whip-cracking coach who will not hesitate to call out players who aren’t pulling their weight.

• Ottawa Senators: The Sens fired John Paddock after the team began a mid-season nose-dive. Many people point the finger to Paddock’s inability to rein in loose cannon goaltender Ray Emery for his firing, but the team overall seemed divided and directionless. More aptly, it was Paddock’s inability to gain the respect of the room that led to his dismissal. So far, it seems that Pat Burns, Pat Quinn and Doug McLean are the top candidates to take over from “interim” coach Bryan Murray. Oh, wouldn’t it be ironic if they ended up with Pat Quinn…

• Colorado Avalanche: They fired agreed to part ways with Joel Quenneville after being ousted from the playoffs in the second round, and have since replaced him with former Avs head coach Tony Granato. This is somewhat odd, since Granato was replaced by Quenneville at the end of 2004. Granato holds a solid 72-33-17-11 record in his previous stint with the Avs, and is a good replacement for Quenneville, who just never caught on in the Mile High State.

• Vancouver Canucks: Tired of not making the playoffs? Fire your ASSISTANT coaches! That’s the approach that new Canucks’ GM Mike Gillis took, sending in head coach Alain Vigneault to do the dirty work. Then, Gillis turned around and extended Vigneault, who is widely viewed as the wrong style of coach on an offensively challenged team like Vancouver.

• Atlanta Thrashers: When Don Waddell fired Bob Hartley early in the 2007-08 season, the thought was that he’d replace him temporarily. Well, that stretched out to the end of the season, and another season of not making the playoffs. So, the impoetus now has to be on finding a capable bench boss to turn things around. A prime candidate here would be Joel Quenneville, at least in my opinion. Other possibilities are Brad McCrimmon or maybe Pittsburgh assistant coach Andre Savard.

I’m not going to dwell too much on Maurice’s tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He simply didn’t get the job done. Under his tutelage the Leafs were unable to win on home ice, sported a mediocre power play, and were frighteningly awful at killing penalties. Most importantly, the team didn’t make the playoffs.

I can’t honestly say I’m going to miss him. As I’ve written before, his track record speaks for itself and, well, it ain’t making a whole lot of noise. Maurice just isn’t that great of a coach.

Yes, Maurice is good people. And a great quote. I hope he lands on his feet and gets another job in the NHL if that is what he desires. However, good guys always finish last. Dead last. Or, well, 24th in the 30 team NHL.

You know who else was a great quote? Pat Burns. And he was pretty good at that whole coaching thing, too. He’s the perfect man for the job. Burns’ resume screams competence: a Stanley Cup ring, a Jack Adams award, and experience in Toronto. Who better than Mr. Burns to take over behind the bench? His passion is exactly what we need as enter a new era.

Of course, “competence” and “Maple Leafs” don’t exactly go hand-in-hand, but I can’t imagine that Burns doesn’t want this job. The Leafs hold a special place in his heart. I remember reading an article from a couple of years ago when the 1992/1993 Leafs got together for a little reunion. Burns spoke fondly about that team and how special it was. He also offered this little nugget of information: on his mantle at home is not a picture of his Stanley Cup winning New Jersey Devils team. Instead it’s a picture of the 92/93 Maple Leafs, the most special team he has ever coached.

Bring Back Burnsy. It has got to be done.

Panthers GM and head coach Jacques Martin tells Gorten that there is still some work to be done before a deal is finalized.

“I have talked to Mike and there’s a good possibility, but we’re still in the negotiating stages,” Martin said.

According to George Richards of the Miami Herald, Martin is eager to announce a new assistant by the end of the week, and is hoping that it is the 51-year-old Kitchen.

Should a deal come to fruition, Brian Biggane of the Palm Beach Post expects Kitchen to work with Panthers’ defense.

Kitchen, who was fired by the Blues in 2006, remains under contract with them for another year. During his stay in St. Louis, Kitchen compiled a 38-70-23 record.

Aside from Kitchen, George Richards of the Miami Herald reports that Randy Cunneyworth, head coach of AHL’s Rochester Americans, has also interviewed for the vacant position. Martin passed over Cunneyworth in favor of Kitchen.

I’m disappointed I didn’t get the job, but now I’ll refocus on the job I did before, Cunneyworth told Kevin Oklobzija of the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.

“Obviously I wouldn’t have applied for the job if I wasn’t excited to take on a new challenge. But this was a possibility I realized could happen.”

Reportedly, Devils GM Lou Lamoriello was interested in bringing Sutter to the Devils last year, but the Alberta native decided to remain with the GM and head coach of the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League.

When asked about the potential hiring of Sutter, Lamoriello remained quiet.

“I really have no comment on that,” Lamoriello said. “There is nothing I can say.”

That is because a formal announcement will be made during a 1:00 PM EDT press conference, according to Rich Chere of The Star-Ledger.

Sutter, who just yesterday stepped down as the Rebels’ GM and head coach, will become the 14th coach in franchise history. He is replacing Lamoriello and the fired Claude Julien. Julien was let go on April 2nd, after which Lamoriello took over the Devils’ bench for the final three regular-season games and the playoffs.

Described by many as a “disciplinarian,” the 45-year old Sutter will do well in continuing the Devils’ “style of defensive responsibility.”

As a player, Sutter was selected in the first round of the 1980 draft by the New York Islanders. He ended up winning the Stanley Cup in 1982 and 1983 with the team, before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 1991. In 1,111 NHL games, Sutter accumulated 363 goals and 466 assists for 829 points.

Reports indicated that Sutter will announce he will step down as GM and head coach of the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League. A formal announcement is expected to me made at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.

When asked about the talk of him going to the Devils, Sutter had no comment.

“I really can’t comment,” Sutter said. “We will have an announcement regarding the Rebels [on Thursday]. That’s all there is to say at this point.”

Devils GM Lou Lamoriello has been searching for a new head coach since he fired Claude Julien late in the regular season.

Sources tell TSN that Sutter is Lamoriello’s “first choice.”

“I feel I’d be ready to do it if the opportunity presented itself,” he said. “It’s a head coaching job, so I’m interested.”

Although Devils GM Lou Lamoriello has already compiled “a list of candidates for the vacant position,” he would not comment on specifics.

“I’m not going to get into names or health,” Lamoriello said, referring to the battle [former Devils bench boss Pat] Burns has fought with cancer over the past few years. “I’m not going to get into any discussion on it for many reasons.”

It’s unknown at this time if MacLean’s name is on that list.

Should he get passed over for the job again, MacLean says he will not leave the team.

Aside from moving into a brand new building, the Devils’ front office will have to hire a new coach and decide on the futures of pending unrestricted free agents forward Scott Gomez and defenseman Brian Rafalski.

On the coaching front, Devils GM Lou Lamoriello says that a timetable for naming a new bench boss has not been set

“Until you get one and appoint one, you don’t have one,” Lamoriello said. “To put a date on it is a difficult thing. You don’t do it overnight.”

As for Gomez and Rafalski, team owner Jeff Vanderbeek tells Chere that it’s too soon to say whether they can keep one or the other, or both.

“It’s too early to say,” Vanderbeek said. “We’ll do whatever we need to do to make sure this team can compete for the Stanley Cup.”

“Lou and I will sit down over the next few days. We have a lot of work to do,” Vanderbeek said. “There is a lot of wood to chop between now and October.”

Murray, who “negotiates his own deals,” is currently in the last year of a “three-year deal he signed in the summer of 2004.”

After a horrible start to the season, Murray has been able to right the ship in Ottawa. Less than a month ago, “the Senators were 12 points behind the Montreal Canadiens” and out of a playoff spot. But after last Saturday night’s 8-3 win over the Canadiens, the Senators are 9-1-1 in their last 11 games and find themselves only one point behind the Canadiens.

So why wouldn’t Senators management initiate contract talks with Murray?

If their plan is to wait and see how the team performs in the second half of the season and into the playoffs before deciding what to do with Murray, “there is a risk attached to that strategy.” Should the Senators continue their regular season hot streak on through the playoffs, “Murray’s value and bargaining position are going to go up.”

Or perhaps Senators management would like to make a change behind the bench, regardless of this season’s results. The list of possible candidates could include Pat Quinn, Pat Burns (if his health allows him to return); former Senators captain and head coach of the Buffalo Sabres AHL affiliate, Randy Cunneyworth; and Senators assistant coach John Paddock.

In the event that Murray is let go he could end up with one of the Florida teams, the Tampa Bay Lightning or the Florida Panthers. Some believe that both clubs will be in the market for “coaches (and one of them a general manager, too) this off-season.” And since Murray and wife Geri own “a home in Florida” and “frequently spend stretches of the winter there,” it would not be out of the question if the current Senators head coach would consider a return to the Sunshine State.

Murray, who “negotiates his own deals,” is currently in the last year of a “three-year deal he signed in the summer of 2004.”

After a horrible start to the season, Murray has been able to right the ship in Ottawa. Less than a month ago, “the Senators were 12 points behind the Montreal Canadiens” and out of a playoff spot. But after last Saturday night’s 8-3 win over the Canadiens, the Senators are 9-1-1 in their last 11 games and find themselves only one point behind the Canadiens.

So why wouldn’t Senators management initiate contract talks with Murray?

If their plan is to wait and see how the team performs in the second half of the season and into the playoffs before deciding what to do with Murray, “there is a risk attached to that strategy.” Should the Senators continue their regular season hot streak on through the playoffs, “Murray’s value and bargaining position are going to go up.”

Or perhaps Senators management would like to make a change behind the bench, regardless of this season’s results. The list of possible candidates could include Pat Quinn, Pat Burns (if his health allows him to return); former Senators captain and head coach of the Buffalo Sabres AHL affiliate, Randy Cunneyworth; and Senators assistant coach John Paddock.

About Sather, Dolan says that he is doing a great job running the team, and “essentially has an open-ended ticket – he can stay as long as he likes” with the Rangers.

Meanwhile, Tom Renney (quietly) received a contract extension at the end of last season. It’s believed that the Renney’s new contract will keep him behind the Rangers’ bench “at least through the end of next season.”

“That’s not on my mind,” Shero said. “It really isn’t.”

Penguins GM Ray Shero wants to “thoroughly evaluate” how his coaching staff fits with the current roster before even considering replacing Therrien.

“I don’t want to judge this coaching staff just by wins and losses, or anything like that. It’s the first 25 or 30 games for Therrien with a number of these players.”

Of note, is the fact that Therrien was not hired by Shero, but by former GM Craig Patrick. Usually, when a new GM is appointed they like to bring in their own coaches. So, if the Penguins continue to slide, Shero has a build it excuse to fire Therrien.

With each and every loss, the Blues are sinking faster and faster to the bottom of the standings, while playing in a near empty arena. They have currently lost seven in a row, and are sitting last in the NHL with a 7-17-4 record. To add insult to injury, the Blues also have the worst attendance numbers in the league, “averaging below 10,000 per game.” And that has Kitchen feeling like he is on the “hot seat.”

“It bothers you when the team doesn’t win, and it bothers you at Scottrade Center, when you don’t see a full building,” Kitchen said. “That bothers you as a coach because you know that’s part of your responsibility … winning.”

Of course, the Blues could make some player transactions to improve their club, but that appears unlikely. A more likely course of action, would be to fire the coach.

However, team President John Davidson says it’s too early into the season to make any sort of coaching decisions.

“Regarding coaching, I can tell you they work,” he said. “Other than that, I don’t make any comment on coaching. They work hard. It’s senseless to make comments on coaching in any direction at any time.”

In The London Free Press, Ken Fidlin reports that if Kitchen was to be fired, Andy Murray would be considered a “top candidate.”

Apparently, there are some who believe that Martin’s philosophy of playing the game “isn’t working anymore.” The former Ottawa Senators’ head coach has always been known for his adherence to a defensive style of play. With the Panthers’ inability to score a single goal in “three games last week,” it’s becoming more apparent that Martin may not be the right coach for the New NHL.

There has also been talk of unrest in the Panthers’ dressing room. Sources have told Garrioch that the “morale is extremely low,” and owner Alan Cohen is becoming increasingly frustrated with the how Martin is performing his duties.

If Martin was to be removed from his role as head coach, or fired for that matter, Garrioch believes that a “strong possibility as a replacement is Randy Cunneyworth,” the coach of the Panthers’ AHL affiliate Rochester Amerks.

McKenzie claims that Ken Hitchcock and Andy Murray are the final two applicants. Hitchcock has already been interviewed by the Jackets, while Murray “will go through the full day of meetings tomorrow.”

Jackets’ GM Doug MacLean is supposed to “make a recommendation to ownership by Wednesday”. If contract talks go well, the Jackets could announce their new head coach by the week’s end.

Hitchcock met with both Jackets President/GM Doug MacLean and the team’s majority owner John H. McConnell, at the team’s facility — Nationwide Arena — on Sunday. As we recently reported, McConnell wants to take a hands-on approach with the hiring of the Jackets’ next head coach.

According to Panaccio, MacLean plans to interview “at least three more candidates before deciding.” Speculation is that those three candidates are Andy Murray, Pat Quinn, and Mike Keenan.

When asked to about his situation, Hitchcock had no comment. Hitch is still employed by the Philadelphia Flyers, where he works as a scout.

“I think our coaches work their tails off,” he said. “I think our coaches are trying to put together a team that’s responsible. I can tell you that they address issues every single day. Again, I know it’s the frustration of where we are and trying to stay in the race, but this is a big-time work in progress. I want to see us compete, and most nights we do. I would like to see a smarter compete … that’s been a real Achilles’ heel for us. I want to see the young players improve because they’re the future. And that’s where we are. (The coach) is not an issue.

After losing nine of their 11 games, the Blues find themselves sitting 13th in the Western Conference, and 7 points out of the final playoff spot.

However, don’t look for the Blues to make any trades that may jeopardize the future of the club for short-term gains. Davidson says he “won’t overreact” and make a trade just for the sake of making one.

“I think it’s harder today to overreact, primarily because in today’s day and age with the NHL, you just can’t make a trade,” he said. “You can’t make a trade because the other team looks at it and says … ‘We’re not making any deals right now because we don’t have any cap room.’ Or, ‘We don’t know how good we are; call us in two months.’ It’s much different than what it was prior to the lockout.”

“I haven’t given up on the possibility of coaching again,” he told RDS in an interview this week.

A former head coach with the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, and the New Jersey Devils, Burns was diagnosed with colon cancer in March 2004. Now healthy and in good spirits, Burns say that “when the subject of hockey comes up… the coaching bug hits me even more.”

“Hockey has always been part of my life, to be sure, and I don’t want that to change.”

The former Stanley Cup winning head coach is now working as a consultant for the Devils.