Monday Night NHL News

CANES GM RUTHERFORD NOT OPTIMISTIC AT RE-SIGNING WHITNEY

Keenan off Devils' coaching list

Boucher Says No

Scott Arniel to Coach Columbus Blue Jackets

CANES GM RUTHERFORD NOT OPTIMISTIC AT RE-SIGNING WHITNEY

Ray Whitney's days with the Carolina Hurricanes may well be coming to an end.

On Monday, Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford told the Raleigh News Observer that he does not expect the 38-year old to re-sign with the ‘Canes prior to the July 1st deadline when Whitney can become an unrestricted free agent.

"I think it will be difficult with where he will be at, contract-wise," Rutherford told the NewsObserver. "I expect him to go into July (and the free-agent market). It appears that's the way it's going to go."

The Hurricanes were prepared to deal Whitney at the NHL trade deadline this past March, however Whitney, who had a no-trade clause in his contract, chose instead to remain with Carolina.

The Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta native has spent the past five seasons with the Hurricanes after signing as a free agent in 2005. He was a key contributor to the team's first ever Stanley Cup title in 2006. This past season he finished third on the Hurricanes in scoring with 21 goals and 37 assists in 80 games. He also filled in as Team Canada's captain at the IIHF World Hockey Championship last month in Germany where they placed seventh.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=323884

Keenan off Devils' coaching list

Michel Therrien and John MacLean appear to be the favorites for the Devils' coaching job, and Craig MacTavish and Mike Keenan are no longer in the running.

Therrien, the former Canadiens and Penguins coach, is the likely choice if general manager Lou Lamoriello goes outside the organization. MacLean, the coach of the Devils' AHL Lowell affiliate, is the promote-from-within candidate. Other possible candidates have included Ken Hitch*****, Kirk Muller and AHL coach Guy Boucher.

Passing over MacLean would devalue organizational loyalty, particularly if it was for another AHL coach, and especially since MacLean went to the bushes to get head coaching experience and gave the Devils' farm team its first playoff berth in ages.

MacTavish, who coached the Oilers and led Team Canada this spring at the World Championships, was one of the most attractive younger candidates, but he is not in the running. Keenan is the ultimate veteran coach, and he remains the only man in 70 years to coach the Rangers to the Stanley Cup.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/devils/keenan_off_devils_list_74ruYQaHjGjx08b39dZ1LK

Boucher Says No

Guy Boucher has declined an offer to become the Blue Jackets’ coach, The Dispatch has learned.

Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson would not comment on the report, and Boucher did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Boucher was offered the job late last week and given the weekend to deliberate and weigh his options. The Blue Jackets and Boucher never reached a point of negotiating a contract, NHL sources told The Dispatch.

It’s a blow to Howson and the Blue Jackets, who now must hire their second choice from a list of candidates that includes minor-league coaches Scott Arniel and Kevin Dineen, and Blue Jackets interim coach Claude Noel.

It’s unclear why Boucher turned down the offer, but it’s likely that his parent club – the Montreal Canadiens – either offered him a pay raise or a job promotion to keep him within the organization. Boucher coached the Canadiens’ top minor-league affiliate in Hamilton, Ont., this season.

It’s also possible that Boucher is in line for two other NHL openings – New Jersey or Tampa Bay.

http://blog.dispatch.com/cbj/2010/06/boucher_says_no.shtml

Scott Arniel to Coach Columbus Blue Jackets

According to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch, Scott Arniel has been hired as the new head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The official team announcement is expected to be made at 3pm tomorrow afternoon.

Arniel, who had been coaching in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose (Vancouver Canucks affiliate), is also expected to receive consideration to be offered the Blue Jackets head coaching position. Arniel has made the playoffs in each of his four seasons as head coach in the AHL and led the Moose to the Calder Cup finals in 2009

http://www.thehockeyguys.net/?p=1490