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UPDATE: Actually, a return in two weeks (or so) isn't out of the question. As relayed by MLive.com, defenseman Danny DeKeyser (thumb) won't dismiss the possibility of a return for the Western Conference finals, if the Detroit Red Wings advance past the Chicago Blackhawks.

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On the surface, professionally, 2013 hasn't been Brian Burke's year. And the former NHL general manager may have just received another slap in the face. According to Greg Brady of Sportsnet 590 The FAN in Toronto, Burke will not be Team USA's general manager for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

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UPDATE: It could be a while before this series of negotiations is resolved. The Columbus Dispatch reports the Columbus Blue Jackets and Sergei Bobrovsky are "no closer" to hammering out a new deal than they were two months ago.

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With the Toronto Marlies eliminated from the AHL playoff picture, Dallas Eakins is now free to entertain offers to coach in the NHL. According to TSN's Darren Dreger, Eakins is permitted to "consider NHL options" following the first full season of his three-year contract with the Marlies. And with three head coach openings in the big leagues (at last count), the 46-year-old can likely expect to soon hear from the Vancouver Canucks, Dallas Stars, and perhaps even the Colorado Avalanche (if alleged talks with Patrick Roy fall apart). In terms of filling a bench-boss void in the NHL, ESPN Insider Craig Custance considers Eakins the top AHL candidate altogether.

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UPDATE: Maybe we won't have to be that patient after all. According to Louis Jean of TVA Sports, a "source" says head coach Alain Vigneault, associate coach Rick Bowness, and assistant Newell Brown have been fired by the Vancouver Canucks.

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UPDATE:Another hurdle, so to speak, is out of the way for Karri Ramo to take over a prominent goaltending position with the Calgary Flames next season. The Calgary Herald reports Danny Taylor has agreed to a deal with Farjestad of the Swedish Elite League. The 27-year-old Taylor was poised to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and considered essentially out of the mix for the Flames, moving forward.

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Unless the Phoenix Coyotes change their conservative spending ways -- and only new, yet-to-be entrenched ownership has the power to forge a different path in that regard -- it may be difficult to hold onto pending UFA Mike Smith. Crunching the numbers, Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic suggests the club has a maximum of $11 million to spend ahead of next season. And, once a few key pieces are re-inked, that won't leave a lot left over for the club's No. 1 netminder.

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Even though the club is facing a salary-cap crunch, the Washington Capitals have some important business to take care of before next season. And re-signing RFA-to-be Karl Alzner is believed to be one priority for GM George McPhee. Katie Carrera of the Washington Post supposes the Capitals will want to retain the reliable, top-four defenseman for several years.

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Ahead of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, the only substantial knock against power forward Valeri Nichushkin has been the two years remaining on his current contract with Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League. That may not be a big concern any longer. As relayed by Hockey Prospectus' Corey Pronman, Nichushkin told RSport.ru he has decided to transfer to North America ... and Dynamo is said to have no issue with terminating his contract.

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UPDATE: As relayed by the NHLPA, Andy Sutton has officially announced his retirement from the NHL.

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Forward Mark Stone could suit up for the Ottawa Senators in Game 4. Sportsnet's Ian Mendes suggests the young winger appears pegged to play his first NHL playoff game of 2012-13 when the Senators host the Pittsburgh Penguins Wednesday.

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Forward Alex Burmistrov may have played his last game for the Winnipeg Jets. As discussed by the Winnipeg Free Press, the soon-to-be restricted free agent wants to move on and compete for another organization. Two league sources have reportedly told the Free Press as much. If so -- and Burmistrov's ongoing discontent with playing for head coach Claude Noel has been widely acknowledged -- a trade would obviously be in everyone's best interest. But easier said than done. Especially, as noted by Ed Tait, when the entire NHL knows the RFA wants out.

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UPDATE: Josh Yohe of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports center Jussi Jokinen appears likely to return to the lineup for Wednesday's Game 4 in Ottawa. Denying speculation that he's dealing with an injury, the veteran faceoff specialist can't wait to get back at it.

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The Montreal Canadiens will likely start the 2013-14 season without Alexei Emelin. RDS' Renaud Lavoie reports the big defenseman is expected to be out six months after undergoing surgery on his left knee. By our arithmetic, that adds up to a projected mid- to late-November return.

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