from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

- In addition to the usual suspects — including the Ducks, Flyers, Wild, Kings and perhaps the Rangers — there is a previously undisclosed entrant in the Hunt for Jack Eichel.

For Slapshots has learned that the Blackhawks have taken a ticket at the deli counter in communicating their interest in the 24-year-old center, who is in the midst of divorce proceedings with the Sabres while possibly facing a tricky surgery to repair a herniated disk.

In order to succeed in the quest, Chicago’s offer would have to feature Kirby Dach — the 20-year-old center who was drafted third overall in 2019, recorded 23 points (8-15) in his rookie season and then played only 18 games last year after he suffered a wrist injury in a pre-World Juniors tournament game....

- We were told toward the end of the week that the Seattle GM Ron Francis had decided to hire Rick Tocchet as coach, after going far down the line with David Quinn, but there is nothing official at the moment.

- It is understood that Cole Caufield has played a sum of 22 NHL games, 10 in the regular season and another dozen in the playoffs. But when is the last time that everyone knew, just knew, that a draft’s 15th-overall selection, was going to make it big time?

Maybe 1977, when the Islanders selected Mike Bossy at that spot?

more on the first and third topics plus other notes...