Sources indicate that the board of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) have in fact offered the position to Bowman and given him by Thursday or Friday to make his decision.

According to Shoalts, Bowman is “leaning toward accepting” the job.

However, Bowman denies the reports to TSN, saying that he was not presented with such an offer.

“I have not received an offer from the Leafs, and I don’t expect one either,” Bowman told TSN in an e-mail.

This is not the first time that Bowman’s name has been linked with the Maple Leafs. MLSE are said to have made two other attempts at luring the NHL’s winningest coach to Toronto back in June. Bowman rejected them both times, and elected to remain an advisor to Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland.

MLSE is looking to hire a senior hockey official to either run their entire hockey operation, or serve as an advisor to GM John Ferguson Jr.

Last season, the former Kings’ captain “served as the team’s director of amateur development and it appeared as though the Kings were poised to increase his role.”

However, according to sources, Taylor will join the front office of the Dallas Stars.

Taylor, who’s contract with the Kings expired June 30th, played 17 seasons for the Kings and was the team’s general manager for nine more. His tenure as GM ended April 2006.

“I spent over half my life with the Kings. I have no regrets,” he said.

Schoenfeld is said to have been an integral force behind the Rangers’ “decision-making process” in signing unrestricted free agent forwards Scott Gomez and Chris Drury.

Currently the GM of the Rangers’ AHL affiliate in Hartford, Schoenfeld will retain that title but will hand over the reigns as the farm team’s head coach.

Schoenfeld is a former head coach of the New Jersey Devils.

In fact, speculation is that Muckler may have already been let go. According to Garrioch, owner Eugene Melnyk’s spokesman Ken Villazor did not deny that Muckler has been fired.

In a statement to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Melnyk says that he is “reviewing all management with the club.”

“We are continuing to have ongoing discussions with management on the future direction and therefore the roles of everyone at the senior level. We had a great year and I am very proud of what my team has achieved. Saying that, I am always evaluating what we can do, both short term and long term, to continue the momentum and lead us to a Stanley Cup victory next year and for years to come.”

However, Senators President Roy Mlakar tells the Sun that a decision on Muckler not been made yet.

“No decision on John’s (future) has yet to be decided …. by any of the parties,” said Mlakar. “And, decisions on multiple fronts, WON’T (his emphasis) be decided until the end of the weekend.”

Mlakar does go on say that a make over in the team’s management could take place.

“The organization continues, and intends to continue, to work through exciting new plans and objectives for all senior management. This is not unusual.”

As for Mucker, he tells the Sun that he has not heard anything in regards to his role with the organization.

“I haven’t been told anything,” Muckler told the Sun when asked about potential changes.

Sources indicate that when Ferguson presents his plans for the future of the franchise in front of the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment board of directors, he will have to really impress his bosses in order to keep his job.

“John should treat this meeting very seriously,” the source said. “There are people on the board who want him out. He doesn’t have everyone’s support, by any means.”

When asked about the situation, MLSE chief operating officer Richard Peddie, a believed ally of Ferguson’s, scoffed at the idea that the GM will be let go if he does not wow the board.

“No, John has a contract through next year, and we’re constantly looking at ways to improve and get better, but he has a contract and that’s where we’re at,” Peddie said.

“This is simply a meeting that was planned a year in advance. We’re meeting with all the GMs of our four teams [Raptors, Leafs, Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and soccer's Toronto FC]. We’ll hear what plans they have to get us closer to their respective [championships], if not win their championships.”

However, word around the NHL is that MLSE board chairman Larry Tanenbaum wants change, and has already “spoken with potential contenders to replace Ferguson.”

Among the more notable names to be interviewed have all been former GMs in the league: Craig Patrick (Pittsburgh Penguins), Doug MacLean (Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers) and Neil Smith (New York Rangers, New York Islanders).

Although the list of candidates is longer, some of them did not want their names released, while others could be with teams that are still competing in the playoffs.

“We’re going to evaluate everything. He knows that. There’s no issue.”

With many important on-ice personnel decisions to be made in the upcoming months, and considering that moves made now may affect the franchise for years to come, it seem “a bit curious” the GM did not receive a vote of confidence.

Still, Snider believes in Holmgren’s abilities to lead the re-building of the last-place Flyers.

“He was a GM/coach at Hartford, he’s been a coach with our team and he’s done a tremendous job with our amateur scouting,” Snider said. “He’s an outstanding hockey guy and I’ve always felt that way.

Snider also confirmed what team President Peter Luukko said on Saturday, namely that current Flyers’ head coach John Stevens will be the coach next year.

When former Flyers GM Bob Clarke left the organization, Holmgren was only named an interim. Team chairman Ed Snider initiated a search for a permanent replacement, and was subsequently turned down by NHL Vice President Colin Campbell. A short time after, Snider announced that Holmgren “would have the job for the rest of the year.”

At the time, Snider said: “Paul has been working very hard and I felt it was important at this time to provide some stability in his position and help him with the tasks at hand.”

But does that mean Holmgren has the green light to make roster changes that may affect the Flyers organization for years to come?

According to Holmgren, he does.

“Absolutely, no question in my mind,” he said the other day. “Right now, the job to do that is mine. I said when Clarke first stepped down, I’ve always been a glass half-full kind of guy. I feel good about my position. Both now and in the future.”

In fact, there is the possibility that Holmgren may figure in the team’s “long-range plans” based on his “alliance” with team President and Snider’s right-hand man, Peter Luukko. Apparently, Luukko is a “big Holmgren backer,” and the two have even “traveled together to Sweden for the World Junior Championships” on a scouting mission.

Should Luukko give Holmgren “a thumbs up, that would count a lot” toward the GM’s future with the franchise.

Although MLSE higher-ups picked up the contract option on Ferguson for the 2007-08 season, all that has done is move the Leafs GM from “lame duck status to semi-lame duck status.” The move came at the 22-game mark, on the “basis of a good start to this campaign.” Since then, the Leafs have struggled and fallen out of a playoff position.

Since many hockey observers believe that Ferguson has to “get this team into the playoffs” in order to keep his job, what happens if the Leafs fall short of participating in the post season?

For one thing, Ferguson can get fired. But that’s unlikely.

What will probably take place is MLSE will allow Ferguson to remain on the job but not sign him to a long-term deal, making him once again a “lame duck” GM. Furthermore, MLSE may decide not to add another year to his contract next season “if the Leafs couldn’t make it into the ‘08 Stanley Cup playoffs.”

Of course, if the Leafs have a strong second half and enter the chase for Stanley, Ferguson will have the last laugh. And perhaps the “multi-year extension he covets.”

In his many public threats of altering his club, Feaster has “refused to consider firing Tortorella.” And even though a “strong belief” exists in NHL circles that the Lightning players “want a change from Tortorella’s coaching style,” Feaster is not about to give in.

However, he may have to in order to save his job. Talk is that if Feaster doesn’t improve his roster or fire the coach, the “finger might soon point in his direction.” Word is that Lightning ownership are disappointed they may not see any “playoff revenues,” so they may take matters in their own hands.

As we reported here a few days back, Florida Panthers head coach and GM Jacques Martin is looking to hire an assistant GM.

Now comes word that NHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Mike Murphy, a former assistant coach for Martin in Ottawa, would very much like to be hired for the job.

“Jacques created an excellent situation in Ottawa, and I know that, given time, he’ll do the same in Florida,” Murphy said from NHL offices in Toronto.

Although Murphy has no “managerial experience,” as required by Martin, sources say the two remain close friends.

Meanwhile, one candidate was scratched off the list. Apparently, former Ottawa GM Marshall Johnston and current Carolina Hurricanes Director of Professional Scouting has no interest in the Panthers’ job opening. His boss, Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford believes that Johnston wants to remain right were he is.

“We certainly wouldn’t hold good people back, but Marshall has been here a good bit now and we have a good relationship,” Rutherford said. “Based on the conversations we’ve had, I don’t think he’s interested in moving.”

In an official announcement, Martin said on Thursday that he will hire an “assistant general manager after the New Year’s holiday.”

“It’s going to be important to take away some of the day-to-day operations, so that I can focus maybe more on the coaching,” Martin said before Thursday night’s game against the New York Rangers. “One of the criteria, to me, is having somebody that’s already been a general manager, that has good experience with the day-to-day operation of a team.”

Martin was named GM of the Panthers back on September 3rd after Mike Keenan was “forced out” of the same position. So why has it taken so long for Martin to start the search for an assistant?

“The second half, in our business, there’s a lot more on our plate as a general manager,” Martin said. “You have a lot of issues that you’re going to need more time to focus on.”

Martin also confirmed that he has contacted “several teams for permission to interview potential candidates,” although he did not mention any names. According to reports out of Canada, Boston Bruins assistant GM Jeff Gorton, and Pittsburgh Penguins assistant coach Andre Savard are believed to be top candidates.

League sources have recently told the Palm Beach Post that Panthers’ current Vice President of hockey operations Jack Birch, and Chicago Blackhawks assistant GM, and former Panthers’ GM, Rick Dudley are also among the possibilities.

Back in September, the Palm Beach Post reported that the NHL’s Vice President of hockey operations Mike Murphy, Montreal Canadiens assistant GM Pierre Gauthier, and New York Rangers assistant coach Perry Pearn were among those considered for the job.

“It is time to take control of our own destiny,” Lemieux said in a statement from the team.”

Apparently, Lemieux has grown increasingly frustrated with trying to get a new arena build for the Penguins, leading him to consider moving the team he once played for out of Pittsburgh.

“… starting Thursday, the team is off the market, and we will begin to explore relocation options in cities outside Pennsylvania. After seven years of trying to work out a new arena deal exclusively in Pittsburgh, we need to take into consideration the long-term viability of the team and begin discussions with other cities that may be interested in NHL teams.”

Supposedly, the cities most interested in obtaining an NHL franchise are said to be Kansas City, Las Vegas, Houston, Oklahoma City and Seattle.

However, it remains uncertain any of those cities will ever get the Penguins. TSN.ca quotes Lemieux as saying that he still plans to “investigate an arena plan in Pittsburgh.”

“As soon as we are no longer restricted by our agreement with Isle of Capri from negotiating an arena deal here, in the next few weeks, we will also begin discussions with local leaders about a viable Pittsburgh arena plan,” he said.

Over the past week, the Penguins have also lost one probable buyer, while received serious interest from another. Now comes word that others have shown interest in purchasing the team.

Rob Rossi reports in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that New York businessman Andrew Murstein, Massachusetts developer Lawrence Gottesdiener, Hartford real estate developer Sam Fingold, and dot-com billionaire and owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks Mark Cuban, have all expressed their desire in owning the NHL franchise, while claiming their intentions to keep the team in Pittsburgh. It’s unknown what type of affect the announcement made by Lemieux today will have on these gentlemen’s plans to buy the Penguins.

“Obviously, we are very disappointed that the Isle of Capri was not awarded the slots licence,” Penguins CEO Ken Sawyer said in a statement.

The Penguins and IOC have already agreed that if the license was awarded, the company would build a new $290 million arena in downtown Pittsburgh to replace the 45-year-old Mellon Arena, the “oldest arena in the NHL.” The Penguins are in the final year of the lease with the Mellon Arena, and are in dire need to find a new home, preferably subsidized by the state or local government or business interests.

“Had Isle of Capri been selected, it would have ensured the long-term future of the Penguins in Pittsburgh and would have delivered a $1-billion development opportunity to the Lower Hill and Uptown,” Sawyer said.

Last week, the Penguins suffered another blow when Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie decided against continuing his bid to purchase the hockey club. It is believed that Balsillie balked at the “NHL’s insistence that keeping the team in Pittsburgh be part of the deal.”

A recent glimmer of hope came over the weekend when the owner of Steelback Breweries, Frank D’Angelo, and his billionaire business partner expressed a desire to buy the Penguins. D’Angelo has been quoted as saying that he would “absolutely not” move the team, but it’s unknown how he plans to finance the much needed arena for the Penguins.

In a statement released on NHL.com, Commissioner Gary Bettman says that the future of the Penguins is clouded, and could even see the team relocate out of Pittsburgh.

“The decision by the Gaming Commission was terrible news for the Penguins, their fans and the NHL. The future of this franchise in Pittsburgh is uncertain and the Penguins now will have to explore all other options, including possible relocation. The NHL will support the Penguins in their endeavors.”

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.”

Apparently the Maple Leafs have been trying since the autumn to convince the league to terminate Sundin’s $4.56 million club option for the 2007-08 season. The “behind-the-scenes” lobbying efforts have been shut down thus far, and that has left the Leafs brass furious.

While “clubs such as the New Jersey Devils have had favorable rulings on salary issues involving the new collective bargaining agreement,” the Leafs feel that the league is not giving them the same opportunities.

What the Leafs would like to do is work out a new “cap-friendly agreement” with their captain, and improve the cap situation to this year’s team as well.

Sundin’s current cap hit (his average salary) stands at $6.3 million, but re-signing him “for a couple of years to say, $800,000 to a million a season less than $6.3 million,” would give the Maple Leafs more cap room not only down the road, but this season as well.

“Steelback beer in Steeltown, what an incredible fit,” D’Angelo said told the Ottawa Citizen.

Unlike former prospective Penguins buyer, Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie, D’Angelo and Sherman say that they are fully committed to keeping the team in Pittsburgh. The two businessmen are very interested in getting into the sports business, and have decided that buying the Penguins is their best way in.

“We are going to be pursuing every avenue to get into the sports business, and what better way then to invest in a great franchise like the Pittsburgh Penguins,” D’Angelo told the paper. “We want to go in there, buy the team, and make sure it has a proper home. The City of Pittsburgh deserves to keep its team.”

D’Angelo and Sherman are currently trying to set up a meeting with the Penguins’ ownership. If it all goes well, a press conference is expected later this week.

“Jim Balsillie delivered a notice of termination today, and it is our understanding that he has stopped negotiating with the National Hockey League to get the necessary consent to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins,” current owner Mario Lemieux said in a news release.

This past October Balsillie — CEO of Waterloo-based Research in Motion, the maker of the BlackBerry — agreed to buy the Penguins for $175 million, pending the approval of the National Hockey League.

It’s believed that the reason Balsillie decided against continuing his bid to buy the Penguins was his “displeasure with league’s mandate to keep the team in Pittsburgh as part of the agreement.”

Speculation had it that if a new arena in Pittsburgh wasn’t built, Balsillie would move the franchise north of the border — with Hamilton as a possible destination — something that the NHL does not want to see happen.

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.

It is unknown the exact position Clarke will fill, but it is expected that he will be some sort of an advisor to current GM Paul Holmgren. A formal announcement is supposed to come “early this week.”

Clarke resigned as Flyers GM some six weeks ago, due to the team’s poor play to start the season. The former Flyers’ captain, also said he was “‘burned out’ by the responsibilities of being the Flyers’ general manager”.