The Vancouver Canucks have named former starting netminder Dan Cloutier their new goaltending coach.

Cloutier will take over the role from Rollie Melanson, who will shift into a player development role after six largely successful seasons fine-tuning Roberto Luongo, Cory Schneider, Eddie Lack, Ryan Miller, and Jacob Markstrom.

Melanson stated he wanted to move closer to his family on the east coast after the season ended, setting a change in motion. He'll now work with the team's goaltenders at the minor-league level in Utica, also helping scout the college and junior ranks.

Cloutier has worked in the Canucks organization for the last four seasons as a goaltending consultant.

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After a lull between the two sides, the Los Angeles Kings and forward Milan Lucic have resumed contract discussions, according to Kings insider Jon Rosen.

Rosen reports nothing is imminent at this point and the talks can be described as "ongoing."

Lucic, 28, was traded to Los Angeles from the Boston Bruins last June and enjoyed a fine first season with the Kings, scoring 55 points in 81 games.

The bruising winger is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent July 1 and is one of the most notable names among players possibly on the move.

Lucic made it clear throughout the season he enjoys playing in Los Angeles, but plenty of teams could use his rare combination of skills, including the Edmonton Oilers, a team Lucic declared he'd be "warm" to receiving a contract offer from.

The Vancouver native carried a $6-million cap hit in the final year of his contract in 2015-16 and it's plausible to think he'll get offers in the same range wherever he signs.

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It appears Glen Gulutzan has a leg up on the NHL's last vacant head coaching position.

The former Dallas Stars boss and current assistant with the Vancouver Canucks is considered the "favorite" to land the Calgary Flames' head coaching job, which is expected to be filled this week, reports TVA's Renaud Lavoie.

TSN's Bob McKenzie and Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province have corroborated Lavoie's finding, the latter suggesting the Flames are holding off with respect to Gordie Howe's memorial services this week.

Gulutzan's head coaching experience in the NHL is limited to two seasons with the Stars. He was dismissed in 2013 after missing the postseason in consecutive years.

Bob Hartley, who was fired one season after winning the Jack Adams Award, was inherited by Flames general manager Brad Treliving.

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The Ottawa Senators want Cody Ceci back, they just need to find the right deal.

Ceci, a restricted free agent come July 1, has been offered both long- and short-team deals from the Senators, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.

The 22-year-old was selected 15th overall by Ottawa in 2012 and recently enjoyed his finest pro season, scoring 10 goals and 16 assists in 75 contests, playing to a plus-9 rating in 19:18 minutes of ice time per game.

Ceci was also a member of Team Canada's gold-medal squad at the 2016 World Championship, where he contributed six points in 10 games.

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Randy Carlyle will indeed return to the Anaheim Ducks.

On Tuesday, general manager Bob Murray officially announced the re-hiring of Carlyle, who coached the Ducks for six-plus seasons between 2005-2011.

"A proven winner and motivator, Randy has expertly managed the bench throughout his coaching career," Murray said, via team release.

"Our expectations are extremely high, and I believe Randy is the coach who can lead us to playoff success and our ultimate goal, the Stanley Cup."

Carlyle, 60, coached the Ducks to a 230-155-49 record in his initial tenure and before his firing after a woeful start to the 2011-12 season.

The winningest coach in franchise history, Carlyle guided Anaheim to its only Stanley Cup in 2007.

It's being reported that Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, who were part of that Cup winning team in 2007, advocated to have Carlyle return.

In between stints with the Ducks, Carlyle coached the Toronto Maple Leafs for parts of four largely unsuccessful campaigns. He was fired after racking up 91 wins in 188 games, and for failing to employ a defensively-sound, puck-possession system.

Carlyle serves as both the successor and predecessor of Bruce Boudreau, who since being fired from the post at the end of April was hired to coach the Minnesota Wild.

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The movement to have Gordie Howe grace the cover of EA Sports' NHL 17 is picking up steam.

There are over 5,000 signatures on the official petition to have "Mr. Hockey" appear on the popular video game cover.

There's similar lobbying to have Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch reconsider the naming rights for Little Caesers Arena, having the team's future home bear Howe's name.

To lend your signature, visit change.org

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