It's safe to say Chris Drury won't be the next general manager of the Minnesota Wild.

The Wild reportedly asked the New York Rangers for permission to speak with the latter club's assistant general manager about Minnesota's vacant GM position, but the Rangers said no, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

It's the second time New York has "politely rebuffed" a team that wanted to talk to Drury after the Buffalo Sabres made the same request, adds Friedman. Buffalo hired Jason Botterill as its GM in May 2017.

Drury, a former NHL forward who retired as a player in 2011, was hired as Rangers director of player development in 2015. He was promoted to assistant GM in the fall of 2016.

Minnesota has been active in its search for a new GM after firing Paul Fenton last week. The Wild reportedly interviewed Ron Hextall, Peter Chiarelli, and Don Waddell, received permission to talk to Bill Guerin, and asked to speak with Scott Mellanby.

Fenton was fired last Tuesday after one season on the job.

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If Andrei Markov had his way, he'd be reunited with the Montreal Canadiens and playing in North America. However, he understands it's not entirely up to him.

"Yes, but it's not just my decision," the longtime defenseman told the Montreal Gazette's Stu Cowan when asked if he hopes to play in the NHL next season. "I'm trying to prepare myself for that, but we'll see what's going to happen, you know."

Markov, who spent the last two seasons with the KHL's Ak Bars Kazan, said he'd prefer to return to the Canadiens - the club with which he spent all 16 of his NHL campaigns - over playing with any other team.

"That's my dream, you know. But, like I said, it's not up to me. We'll see … we'll see what's going to happen. I'm not kind of in a rush. I'll try to train hard and prepare myself."

As far as the term he's seeking, the 40-year-old isn't looking for a long-term deal.

"Most probably it's going to be my last year," he said. "I'm looking for a one-year contract and (would) try to enjoy that and give my all."

The Canadiens would obviously have to be open to bringing Markov back, which general manager Marc Bergevin wasn't interested in doing when the two sides went their separate ways in 2017.

“I was looking for (a) two-year contract (back then)," Markov told Cowan. "I don't want to go back (and revisit that) … there's no point to go back. Whatever happened at that time, it happened. They have their view, I have my view, that's it."

Markov helped Ak Bars win the Gagarin Cup, the KHL championship, in 2018. He ranks sixth in Canadiens history with 990 games played and also sits sixth on the franchise's all-time assists list (453) to go along with 572 points.

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Nashville Predators forward Rocco Grimaldi was awarded a one-year, $1-million contract in arbitration, the team announced Tuesday.

Grimaldi was apparently seeking $1.275 million, according to TSN.

In his first season with the Predators, the 26-year-old recorded a career-high five goals and eight assists in 53 games played.

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Former New York Rangers blue-liner Kevin Shattenkirk had a more lucrative offer on the table before he settled on a one-year, $1.75-million deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday.

The Anaheim Ducks offered the 30-year-old defenseman a two-year pact with an average annual value north of $2 million, sources confirmed to The Athletic's Eric Stephens.

Shattenkirk hit the open market last week after the Rangers bought out the final two seasons of the four-year, $26.6-million contract he signed in 2017.

After his productivity dipped and he struggled to stay healthy with the Blueshirts, Shattenkirk admitted he "was pretty pissed off" about the way his time in New York ended shortly after inking his new deal with the Bolts.

Shattenkirk appeared in 73 games in 2018-19, registering two goals and 26 assists.

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St. Louis Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson has been awarded a one-year, $3.1-million contract in arbitration, the team announced Tuesday.

"We are glad to have Joel under contract next season," Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. "He is an important part of our defensive unit and we are looking forward to another successful year."

Edmundson asked for $4.2 million in arbitration while the Blues countered with $2.3 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The walkaway minimum in 2019 is set at $4,397,832, according to CapFriendly, meaning St. Louis was obligated to honor the contract awarded by the arbitrator.

Edmundson, 26, appeared in 64 regular-season games for the Blues in 2018-19, notching 11 points while averaging 19:23 per night. He added seven points in 22 postseason contests as St. Louis marched to its first Stanley Cup title in franchise history.

With Edmundson's situation resolved, the Blues now have $1.97 million in remaining cap space to sign restricted free agent Ivan Barbashev.

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The Minnesota Wild interviewed Don Waddell for their vacant general manager position on Monday, sources told The Athletic's Michael Russo.

Waddell is currently the Carolina Hurricanes' GM, president, and alternate governor. His contract with Carolina expired June 30, technically making him a free agent, but Waddell said in May he'd be back with the Hurricanes next season as he and owner Tom Dundon work toward a mutual agreement on a new deal.

Last season marked Waddell's first season as Hurricanes GM, but he ran the business side of the organization for the previous five years. The 60-year-old also has career experience as a scout with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and as GM with the Atlanta Thrashers from 1998-2010.

His first year at the helm in Carolina was an enormous success, as the club snapped a 10-year playoff drought and advanced all the way to the Eastern Conference Final - a big factor in Waddell being named a finalist for NHL General Manager of the Year.

Coincidentally, one of Waddell's biggest moves last season came at the expense of the Wild, who shipped a misused Nino Niederreiter to the Hurricanes in exchange for Victor Rask. Niederreiter hit his stride in Raleigh, bagging 30 points in 36 games, while Rask mustered a measly three points in 23 contests with Minnesota.

The Wild have also interviewed Pittsburgh Penguins assistant GM Bill Guerin, and have reportedly reached out to a number of other candidates in their search for a new leader, including Tom Fitzgerald, Chris Drury, Mark Hunter, Bill Zito, Basil McRae, Mike Futa and Sean Burke, according to Russo.

Minnesota fired former GM Paul Fenton last week after one season in charge.

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