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Dans les coulisses

Bob Hartley has contacted Don Waddell for the Columbus coaching job

ST. PAUL, MN - APRIL 9: Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley leads his team against the Minnesota Wild during the game on April 9, 2016 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)

Just a few days ago, Elliotte Friedman asked us to keep an eye on Bob Hartley in connection with the Columbus Blue Jackets’ vacant head coaching position.

The man himself, who appears on BPM Sports on a regular basis, was asked about it. And very clearly, he replied that we shouldn’t waste our energy on this. #OfficialSpeeches

He says he’s very happy where he is.

You might have thought that was the end of the matter. However, this morning, Don Waddell added fuel to the fire during a media availability by bringing up Bob Hartley’s name publicly.

Basically, he mentioned that Hartley, who coached him with the Atlanta Thrashers, had contacted him in connection with the head coaching position.

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Did he contact him simply to see who was on his list or to talk about Pascal Vincent? Did he contact him instead to put his name on the potential list of candidates?

Your prediction is as good as mine. Mine is that he’d listen if he were offered an interview for the job.

Waddell, who is looking for an experienced coach for the job following the Pascal Vincent experience (who never worked under Waddell, but may have been thrown under the bus by his former players), said Hartley would be considered.

That doesn’t mean the veteran will be interviewed, but he’ll surely be considered. Is he one of the 12 men on the new boss’s list?

Note that the GM intends to interview only a few names. If he really does interview Hartley, it will be because he’s a serious candidate, considering how well he knows him.

To be continued.

Overtime

– Patrik Laine may be a few days away from being released from the assistance program. He may not be traded if the right deal isn’t on the table.

– Like it or not?

– Jeff Skinner: everything is on the table.

– He’s back.