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Clarkson Staying Mum On Free Agent Status, Eakins Interviews With Edmonton

June 4, 2013, 2:27 PM ET [706 Comments]
Mike Augello
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
David Clarkson is expected to be one of the more sought after players in the 2013 free agent class, as a number of clubs(including the Maple Leafs) would like to add the power forward with scoring ability, but that is assuming that the 29 year old winger will not sign a contract extension in New Jersey before July 5.

The Toronto area native spoke to Sportsnet FAN 590’s Brady and Lang morning show on Tuesday and indicated that he is concentrating more on off-season workouts and letting his representatives work on a new deal.

“I’m still with the New Jersey Devils and Mr.(Lou) Lamoriello and my agent Pat Morris have talked,” Clarkson said. “As of right now, that’s where I’m at.”

The winger has been with the Devils since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2005 and followed up his first 30 goal season in 2011-12 with 15 goals and 9 assists in 48 games in 2013.

It is expected that Lamoriello will go all out to re-sign Clarkson in the wake of losing team captain Zach Parise to Minnesota as a free agent last summer, but it has to be factored in whether Clarkson wants to stay with an aging New Jersey club long term, with veterans like Patrik Elias and Martin Brodeur close to retirement.

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Dallas Eakins continues to be a popular name on the NHL coaching front.

According to the Globe and Mail’s James Mirtle , the Toronto Marlies head coach interviewed for yet another coaching position over the weekend, as Edmonton GM Craig McTavish spoke to Eakins about the Oilers vacant associate head coach position.

Mirtle believes that Eakins’s best chance at an NHL head coaching job is in Vancouver, but indicates that Edmonton might be a viable option, as the Oilers want to add a coach who can have a positive influence with young players and provide a fresh perspective on the technical side of the game as second in command to current head coach Ralph Kreuger.

The Vancouver coaching search is going to be extensive and all indications are that GM Mike Gillis would prefer someone with previous NHL coaching experience, like former Leafs head coach Paul Maurice, ex-Sabres coach Lindy Ruff or ex-Flyers coach John Stevens, currently an assistant with the Los Angeles Kings.

The Edmonton situation might be tempting, from the standpoint of having the opportunity of being the heir apparent if Kreuger fails to get the Oilers to the playoffs next season, but Eakins has said in the past that he would have no problem returning to Toronto for another season with the Marlies.

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