In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Ottawa Senators are believed to be hiring Travis Green as their next head coach. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues have removed the interim coaching tag from Drew Bannister’s name. The New Jersey Devils are still looking at coaching options and it’s not clear where the Toronto Maple Leafs sit on their coach Sheldon Keefe. Speaking of the Maple Leafs, a few pending UFAs are saying they’re open to staying and some want to be back with the team next season.
Travis Green to Coach Senators
According to reports, final details are still being worked on but all signs point to Travis Green being named the next head coach of the Ottawa Senators.
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports:
“Sources tell Postmedia the deal is done and Travis Green is the Sens new head coach. Expectation is announcement will be made today. Green will be introduced tomorrow with press conference by POHO/GM Steve Staios. Owner Michael Andlauer will also be in town.”
Drew Bannister Is Now Officially Blues Head Coach
The St. Louis Blues removed the interim tag from Drew Bannister and made him the Blues head coach on Tuesday. He was signed to a two-year contract, which will give him a chance to prove himself as the Blues go through a retool.
Devils Coaching Plans
As per TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the New Jersey Devils hope to have a new coach hired within the next 7-10 days. They should have a clearer picture of things by the end of the week. Green was a serious candidate in New Jersey and reports are the team did talk to Craig Berube.
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“The word on New Jersey is they want to take a big swing,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, “They want to see if there is a big swing they can take out there. Obviously, John Cooper (Tampa Bay Lightning) and/or Mike Sullivan (Pittsburgh Penguins) would be as big of a swing as you can take, and Craig Berube is obviously right there, as I previously mentioned.”
Latest on Los Angeles Kings
LeBrun also notes that the Los Angeles Kings haven’t decided their course yet on the head coaching front. GM Rob Blake will meet with Jim Hiller next week. Kings liked how Hiller handled himself. Rob Blake also said today there are no plans to buy out Pierre-Luc Dubois, who has been in the rumor mill after a disappointing season and could be bought out at 1/3 his salary if done before his 26th birthday.
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