ANAHEIM _ Ken Hitchcok will be getting a phone call _ if he hasn't already _ from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren told me tonight that the Blue Jackets had called and received permission to speak to Hitchcock.

Here's what I wrote for the Inquirer that is running on-line:


Blue Jackets to interview Hitchcock

By Tim Panaccio
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

The Columbus Blue Jackets have received permission from the Flyers to interview Ken Hitchcock about their head coaching position.

"They called and got permission," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said today. "I was under the assumption they would try to talk to Hitch later in the day."

As of tonight, Hitchcock said he had not been contacted.

"No one from Columbus has called yet, but Homer told me they got permission to talk, so we'll see what happens," Hitchcock said.

Blue Jackets general manager Doug MacLean reportedly was meeting with the team's owners yesterday to discuss a list of candidates to be interviewed for the head coaching job. Coach Gerard Gallant was on Monday. Gary Agnew was named interim coach.

Also, the situation in Ottawa bears watching. The Senators, like the Flyers, have taken a nose-dive, with seven losses in their last eight games. Coach Bryan Murray's job could be on the line.

Some NHL observers think Hitchcock would be a more natural fit in Ottawa if GM John Muckler fires Murray. But Muckler could be dismissed as well.

"I'm not worried about my job as much as I'm trying to get these kids to play better hockey," Murray told the Toronto Globe & Mail. "We have a talented group that knows they can play better."

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