from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet,

- There were some wild rumours that Pavel Datsyuk is coming back to Detroit for 2018-19. Dan Milstein, his agent, says that is not true.

- It has been a very difficult week in Calgary, with the Flames on fumes, lurching to the end of the season. I think they are in a similar kind of shock Edmonton was in for awhile, stunned at how a hopeful season went off the rails. It’s led to a lot of questions about the team’s character, but my sense is they are less worried about that than a lack of urgency.

Yes, it’s a fine line, but let me give you an example of what I think this means. One of the stories I heard was that, in 2016–17, some players went to coach Glen Gulutzan and said the group responded better to a velvet glove than an iron hand. There are times that is true and good coaches use both, but the team has to be able to properly police itself. Gulutzan’s taken heat this year for public tirades/stick tosses, but he’s also got defenders who say he was trying to light a fire under a team that couldn’t do it. How do you add that edge? That’s the off-season question.

- Detroit’s Ken Holland is in the cone of silence, not revealing much about his future. I’m loathe to say he’s 100 per cent coming back, because nothing is done until it is done, but all indications are pointing in that direction. The Athletic’s Craig Custance quoted sources as expecting a three-year extension; I heard rumblings about a two-year move. Whatever the case, the organization is working through the process.

Owner Marian Ilitch has a place near the site of last week’s GM meetings and it is believed they met. There are some GMs who know the end is coming and give off a “Dead Man Walking” impression, but Holland isn’t acting that way. He’s spent much less time around the team than normal, throwing on his scouting beret for a hugely important draft.

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