A lot off the top?
The biggest news at the GM's meetings came when Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis was peppered with questions about John Tortorella's future as coach.
In his first year behind Vancouver's bench, Tortorella's suspension for trying to storm into Calgary's locker room to confront Flames coach Bob Hartley in January began the Canucks' crumble. Last week, they blew a 3-0 lead at home in the third period by giving up seven goals to the Islanders.
"There's a lot of rumor and speculation out there, and for me to comment on it would lend some degree of credibility to it, which is not something that's good for anybody," Gillis, whose own job could be in jeopardy, told reporters. "I think right now we have to get behind our team and behind our players and behind our coaching staff and try and win some hockey games."
Gillis and Tortorella both reportedly have four years left on their contracts.
Who, me?
Taylor Hall's shootout winner against Minnesota last week was actually the first shootout attempt in more than two years for the Oilers' leading scorer. He's 4-for-12 in his career.
"When they called my name I went, 'Really?' " Hall said. "It had been an awfully long time. I'm usually watching and it seems like it gets so quiet in the building when you come down the ice. And everybody is looking at you. Really, the shootout is more mental than anything else."
