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Stars, Devils, Senators, and Wild still looking to fill coaching vacancies

Montreal Canadiens v Pittsburgh Penguins

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 12: Assistant Coach Kirk Muller of the Montreal Canadiens and Head Coach Jacques Martin of the Montreal Canadiens watch their team play the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 12, 2011 at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

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The first move in this year’s coaching carrousel has been made as the Florida Panthers are officially announcing Kevin Dineen as their 11th coach in franchise history this morning. For those keeping track at home, that would be ONE coaching vacancy filled almost two full months after the end of the regular season. Maybe they were waiting to see if Claude Julien would become available after the first round? Either way, there are still job openings in four difference cities for the any potential head coaches. Some names have been floating around since the beginning of the season and some names like Saint John Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant have caught fire over the last few months. Here’s a snapshot of the four teams still looking for a bench boss.

New Jersey Devils: After John MacLean failed so spectacularly to start the 2010-11 season, Devils boss Lou Lamoriello is taking a methodical approach this time around. Jacques Lemaire proved during the 2nd half of last season that the team has enough talent to win—they’ll just need the right coach to point the team in the right direction. The three candidates who are getting the most attention are Binghamton Senators head coach Kurt Kleinendorst (played under Lamoriello at Providence College and was with the Devils organization for nine years), Montreal assistant Kirk Muller (played his first seven seasons with the Devils), and respected, defensive-minded, former head coach Ken Hitchcock.

Dallas Stars: The Stars are a little further along in the interview process. Joe Nieuwendyk has interviewed Ken Hitchcock, Peter Horachek (Predators assistant), Glen Gulutzan (Texas Stars head coach); plans to interview Kirk Muller, and one final candidate who could possibly be Saint John Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant. Since the day Marc Crawford was fired, that speculation has been that Nieuwendyk’s strong ties from his playing days with both Hitchcock and Muller would make them the leading candidates. Until both find jobs in competing cities or someone else is hired, they’ll continue to be the leading candidates.

Minnesota Wild: GM Chuck Fletcher has confirmed that he has interviewed Michel Therrien (Wild scout), Craig MacTavish, and Ken Hitchcock (asked for permission). Aside from each of those worthy candidates, Houston Aeros head coach Mike Yeo is another name that is likely to be considered as he recently lead the Wild’s AHL affiliate to the Calder Cup Final.

Ottawa Senators: Bryan Murray told the Ottawa Citizen that he started his coaching search last week. The Sens job is interesting in that so many candidates have ties to the owner or organization. Former Florida Panthers head man Peter DeBoer was in the mix for Ottawa’s job last time around, Kurt Kleinendorst is the head coach of their AHL affiliate in Binghamton, Dave Cameron is the head coach of the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (owned by Eugene Melnyk), and Hamilton’s head coach Randy Cunneyworth is a former Senators captain. On top of all those names, Red Wings assistant Paul MacLean has already been given an interview.

Aside from each of the candidates mentioned for each job, Hawks assistant coach Mike Haviland, Manitoba Moose coach Claude Noel, and Thrashers assistant John Torchetti have all had their names bouncing around the rumor mill. When the music stops, there will only be chairs for four candidates; but with the Panthers kicking off the hiring season, it looks like the coaching vacancies will start to get filled.