Devils reportedly had strong candidates for their GM job

While the New jersey Devils ultimately opted to give Tom Fitzgerald the full-time role as general manager, at least two other executives received strong consideration for the position.

Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that Leafs assistant GM Laurence Gilman and former Kings assistant GM Mike Futa received multiple interviews for the role and were considered serious candidates for the position.

Meanwhile, Fitzgerald noted in a conference call with reporters that current assistants — including former interim head coach Alain Nasreddine — will have an opportunity to speak to Ruff about whether or not they’ll stick around, relays ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski (via Twitter).

There is more to report from the Metropolitan Division:

• Rangers winger Kaapo Kakko is among those players the NHL could deem ineligible to return for medical reasons due to his diabetes but his agent, Andy Scott, told Greg Joyce of the New York Post that the rookie still intends to suit up against Carolina. Players have the right to appeal if league doctors rule them ineligible and this would suggest that Kakko would go that route if needed.
• While there will be a few days after the ratification of the CBA for players to opt out of participating in the NHL’s return this season, Mike DeFabo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes that no Penguins player has given head coach Mike Sullivan any indication that they’re thinking about doing so. Pittsburgh will take on Montreal in the best-of-five play-in round.
• Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov received the Barry Ashbee Trophy as Philadelphia’s top defenseman as voted on by local media, notes Ed Barkowitz of the Philadelphia Daily News and Inquirer. This year was a resurgent season for the 23-year-old Provorov as his offensive numbers rebounded to a respectable 13 goals and 23 assists in 69 games after posting just 26 points in 82 games the year before; his seven power play goals led all NHL blueliners. Provorov, who logged just under 25 minutes a game to lead the team, will be wrapping up the first year of his six-year, $40.5M deal, one that looked a little expensive at the time but looks better now.