Hockey Night in Canada: Saturday's Headlines
/Elliotte Friedman and Damien Cox were on Sportsnet’s Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday night.
Friedman: “Damien, why don’t we start in Boston.”
Cox: “Lots of speculation about the futures of Peter Chiarelli and Claude Julien. It’s one of those things where the speculation isn’t about the players, but more about who’s going to be running this team in the future. They are in a big fight for a playoff spot. They’ve lost six straight. Charlie Jacobs, the CEO of the team, all he said is that everything is under review. And Peter Chiarelli, he says he won’t trade his first round pick and he won’t fire Claude Julien.”
Friedman: “The other thing he won’t trade is captain Zdeno Chara. There have been a lot of rumours and wonderings if they would do that. The Bruins have not asked Chara to waive his no-trade clause. Nor do they play to.”
Friedman: “David Krejci will not play tomorrow in Chicago. He’ll return to Boston for evaluation afterwards.”
Cox: “And great concern in Detroit over the immediate future of Johan Franzen. He has a concussion. He’s not skating. They don’t know when he’ll be back. They may have to reach out and get a forward before the trade deadline because they have no idea if Franzen will even play again this season.”
Cox: “And the story of Mike Babcock and his future in Detroit has kind of gone under the radar for awhile now, which is probably exactly how Ken Holland would like it. But this we know. The Edmonton Oilers this week said they’re not going to take the interim tag off Todd Nelson’s name, even though his record is pretty good. Toronto, of course, also has an interim head coach. And we know that job may be open. I think what’s going to be interesting is that both of those teams, and others, won’t make any decision on a permanent head coach until they know what’s happening with Mike Babcock.”
Friedman: “Rental defencemen market, speaking of Edmonton. Reports this week the Edmonton Oilers and Jeff Petry were going to talk extension. There is no expectation that will get done. Other teams would be shocked if Petry isn’t one of the moves.”
Friedman: “Also, Mike Green of the Washington Capitals. Brian MacLellan saying today he will not trade Mike Green for a rental or a prospect. It’s a big deal or nothing, and he says he doesn’t see anything materializing. So you can expect that Mike Green will stay with the Capitals and they will take a run with him. It’s a good blueline.”
Cox: “All the teams selling before the NHL trade deadline. What are they looking for? A first round pick. They’re just not out there. Only one real possibility, it sounds like - the Tampa Bay Lightning, because they own the first round pick of the New York Rangers.”
Friedman: “The Calgary Flames are working with Curtis Glencross to try and facilitate a trade. Glencross does have protection. Initially it was believed the only team on his list was Anaheim. Now it’s believed to be expanded: L.A., Tampa Bay, Nashville and Chicago among them. The Blackhawks believed to have interest. Of course they continue to work, player and team, to see if they can make that list grow larger.”
Friedman: “Also Team Canada and Team USA, or Hockey Canada and USA Hockey, met this week to discuss the Under-23 team at the World Cup. There will be, I’m hearing, no quota. They feel there’s enough good players from both countries they don’t feel the need to do it.
Friedman: “Also don’t be surprised if both countries name their management teams for the World Cup in March, end of March, beginning of April. Dean Lombardi is the favorite in the USA. Canada, the expectation is likely someone after Steve Yzerman from the management team.”
Source: HNIC/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey
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