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Peter Forsberg could be seeing Stars this winter.
The unrestricted free-agent centre has received calls from Philadelphia, Ottawa, Calgary, Columbus, Atlanta, Vancouver, Montreal, Detroit, Colorado, San Jose and the Rangers, but sources say Dallas is making the biggest push for Forsberg.
The chase for the 34-year-old Swedish superstar heated up this weekend after he gave agent Don Baizley the go-ahead to make a deal with an NHL team as Forsberg prepares for a comeback at home.
While the Flyers and Rangers are listed as the frontrunners, it's believed Dallas co-GMs Les Jackson and Brett Hull have stepped up their efforts to get Forsberg by making a push with Baizley. Sources say the Stars "have been looking all over the league" for help down the middle.
Hull accompanied former GM Doug Armstrong to Sweden early in the season for a meeting with Forsberg to let him know just how much the Stars would like to acquire the centre. Armstrong is out, but the desire to acquire Forsberg hasn't changed.
Forsberg won't come cheap at a pro-rated $5 million ($2 million for the rest of the season) and he may want a guarantee for next year.
OFF THE GLASS
The frontrunner to become Toronto GM isn't Anaheim's Brian Burke, Carolina's Jim Rutherford or Detroit's Ken Holland. Sources say it's NHL VP Colin Campbell. While commissioner Gary Bettman doesn't want to lose the NHL's "Lord of Discipline," the word is Campbell might be a perfect fit for the Leafs. He had a shot at the Flyers job last year, and would like the chance to run the Leafs ... The talk is Atlanta RW Marian Hossa has made it clear he won't return. The Habs, Rangers and Wings are considered the frontrunners to acquire Hossa at the Feb. 26 trade deadline. The Senators, Stars, Sharks and Bruins have also called Thrashers GM Don Waddell about Hossa ... The NHL Players' Association planned to ask G Ray Emery to appeal his $14,500 fine imposed by the Senators for being late to practice, until he gave the money to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
AROUND THE BOARDS
Montreal GM Bob Gainey might want to hold contract talks with UFA Cristobal Huet. The goalie wanted to talk to the Habs in September, but was rebuffed because the club insisted Carey Price would be its future No. 1 netminder. Suddenly the Habs are on the road to the playoffs and they might want to slow down Price's timetable. Huet isn't alone in leading the Habs, but he's at the top of the list. If he doesn't re-sign, he'll either land back with Los Angeles or get an offer from Tampa Bay ... Many are wondering who will be the first to go in Florida: GM/coach Jacques Martin or C Olli Jokinen. One thing is certain -- they can no longer co-exist. A week ago it looked like Martin might be given his walking papers by owner Alan Cohen. The word now is Jokinen is being shopped. The Flames are interested because of Jokinen's relationship with bench boss Mike Keenan -- who coached the Finnish star in Florida. Dallas has also called about Jokinen ... Speaking of the Panthers, Roberto Luongo's return to Florida Friday night had many wondering what would have happened if the Panthers had accepted the Senators' offer of Emery, D Chris Phillips and C Antoine Vermette for Luongo. That offer was made just before Luongo was shipped to the Canucks in June 2006 ... Boston's Claude Julien should be the NHL's coach of the year. The job he has done is nothing short of amazing.
RUMOURS DU JOUR
The Sabres haven't ended contract talks with free-agent D Brian Campbell, but they're not making much progress. The word is Buffalo won't let Campbell go for nothing, and will move the defenceman before the trade deadline if he's not re-signed. The Sharks, Senators, Penguins, Canucks, Rangers and Bruins have all made pitches for Campbell. The asking price: A player, prospect and No. 1 pick ... The market for Campbell will be influenced by Tampa Bay D Dan Boyle, who's garnered interest from the same clubs. The word is Lightning GM Jay Feaster has suddenly come to the realization the Bolts won't make the playoffs and he's been shopping players all over the league. Tampa Bay is also willing to move C Chris Gratton, LW Jan Hlavac and C Vaclav Prospal because Feaster plans to spend money in the summer. Somebody might want to suggest he gets a goalie, but that's a subject for another day. An Ottawa player told me this week that Boyle would be a perfect fit with the Senators ... The Jackets have started talking about a contract extension with D Adam Foote ... Leafs interim GM Cliff Fletcher is starting to field calls from friends in the business who want to help at the trade deadline. Fletcher's issue: A lot of teams are calling about LW Alexei Ponikarovsky, D Tomas Kaberle and C Alex Steen. Those are the guys the Leafs want to keep. While C Mats Sundin is a hot commodity, but he has to approve any deal. Fletcher is also listening to offers for rugged RW Darcy Tucker. With $9 million left on his contract for the next three seasons, Tucker has a "no movement" clause and would have to approve a deal ... Expect Los Angeles D Rob Blake to return to Colorado.
Have a nice Sunday.