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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Joe Louis Arena in Detroit will be open all day for Red Wings fans, and the entire hockey community, to pay their respects to "Mr. Hockey," Gordie Howe.

Groups lined up around the corner long before the arena doors opened, but it wasn't just fans who arrived early. Wayne Gretzky, Scotty Bowman, Steve Yzerman, Ken Holland, Jeff Blashill, and Al Kaline were among some of the first to file through the receiving line, and to impart condolences on Mark, Marty, and the entire Howe family.

(Photo courtesy: Getty)

Inside the building, Howe's No. 9, and the four championship banners he helped the Red Wings win hung over Mr. Hockey's closed casket.

NHL.com historian Dave Stubbs described the scene as breathtaking, calling it every bit the equal of memorial services for Maurice "Rocket" Richard and Jean Beliveau.

Guests lined up inside are receiving this visitation program:

Outside hangs a tribute poster for fans to sign, and express sentiment for Howe.

The doors will remain open until 9 p.m. ET, and likely well beyond.

Howe's funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET at the Cathedral of Most Blessed Sacrement in Detroit.

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The Tampa Bay Lightning will retain at least one valued asset this summer.

Assistant coach Rick Bowness has reportedly re-upped with the Lightning, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. This news comes in indirect response to Randy Carlyle apparently being on the verge of taking the Anaheim Ducks head coaching job, a role Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman indicated Bowness was in "deep" consideration for.

Bowness has been a staple behind NHL benches for the better part of three decades, but sparingly in a lead capacity. He owns 123 wins in 463 games on his head coaching record - predominantly in spot opportunities over parts of nine seasons.

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