Patrick Roy could be making a return to the Rocky Mountains.
The hall of fame goaltender travelled to Denver last week for a meeting with Avalanche president Pierre Lacroix to talk about taking over behind the bench from coach Tony Granato.
While Granato hasn't been relieved of his duties -- he still has two years left on his contract -- the talk is Roy is prepared to assemble an all-star coaching staff to get the Avs back on track and back to respectability after the club finished dead last in the Western Conference with 69 points.
When the Avs fired Francois Giguere as GM, Lacroix said a new "management structure" would be formed.
League sources say Roy is ready to assemble a coaching staff that could include ex-Colorado coach Bob Hartley and former Quebec/Chicago forward Michel Goulet as his assistants.
Hartley was behind the bench when the Avs won the Stanley Cup in 2001, while Goulet has mostly been working as a scout.
Before accepting an offer to be on Roy's staff, Hartley would exhaust all opportunities to be an NHL bench boss. He was fired by the Thrashers only six games into the 2007-08 season and would like to coach again.
After being passed over by Senators GM Bryan Murray in favour of Craig Hartsburg last summer, Hartley is listed as one of the top candidates for the coaching post with the Canadiens and would likely get consideration from whoever takes over the Wild as GM.
Off the glass
Talks to keep Chicago RW Martin Havlat from becoming an unrestricted free agent on July 1 are ongoing, but the 27-year-old's play in the post-season is driving up his value. The Blackhawks are talking about a deal that could be up to 10 years long for the Czech native, who made $6 million (all terms US) this season ... Highly touted Swedish G Jonas Gustavsson, who has earned the nickname "The Monster" for his performance this season with five shutouts in 13 games for Farjestad, will decide in the next couple of weeks where he's going to play next season. Though the Maple Leafs are considered the front-runner to land the UFA netminder, the word is the Oilers, Canucks and Kings have all held talks with Gustavsson's agent.
Around the boards
The search for a GM in Minnesota is getting down to the nitty gritty. The top three candidates are Pittsburgh assistant GM Chuck Fletcher, Anaheim scout David McNab and TSN analyst Pierre McGuire. It's expected a decision will be made in the next couple of weeks after another round of interviews. McGuire might be the most popular choice and he's got strong backing for the job ... There is talk the Senators are trying to move veteran D Jason Smith and the $2.1 million remaining on his contract ... The Jackets are going to begin negotiations with potential UFA C Manny Malholtra soon.
Butt ends
While the Flyers' interest in UFA G Ray Emery is genuine, it might also be a bargaining ploy to put pressure on G Martin Biron to stay for less. He made $3.5 million last season and Philly is tight for cash. The Flyers are one of three teams involved in discussions with Emery's agent, J.P. Barry. An offer from one of those teams could be tabled this week. The Blues, Oilers and Kings are all looking for goaltending help ... The Panthers haven't made any progress in signing UFA D Jay Bouwmeester. There haven't been any discussions since the end of the season. Bouwmeester hasn't changed his plans to test the marketplace ... An NHL governor's take on the possibility of a franchise in Hamilton: "I don't think we're going to see it. I just don't believe there's the market there to support it. You don't have the corporate money necessary, even if it's close to Toronto."
BRUCE.GARRIOCH@SUNMEDIA.CA
