Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports that Columbus Blue Jackets management will meet in person with two potential candidates for the head coaching vacancy this week. Portzline believes the two candidates include the former Minnesota Wild bench boss Dean Evason and Jay Woodcroft, who was fired after the Edmonton Oilers got off to a slow start last season.

Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell has mentioned a third candidate in the mix, but the belief is that they are on hold for now. Waddell also said he doesn’t want the coaching search to drag on into August, meaning a decision is likely in the next few weeks. The sides will have to work out a contract and details on a potential coaching staff, but the process should be over soon.

In other NHL notes:

• Frankie Corrado joins TSN SportsCenter to talk about the Toronto Maple Leafs captain John TavaresCorrado was asked about Tavares’ next contract and believes the Maple Leafs need to sign Tavares to an extension to get him under $6 million per year. Corrado adds that Tavares is still scoring points but not driving the game and is not a player Toronto can pay a premium for. He also adds that Toronto hasn’t gained anything with him and Toronto could try to use that fact, along with Tavares being in his hometown, to keep him at a discount. Tavares is entering the final season of a seven-year, $77 million contract and will add $11 million to the cap hit next season.
• Zach Paris Earlier this month, we spoke with Kevin Karius on the Kevin Karius Show and discussed his retirement from the NHL. The 39-year-old revealed that he has not filed any official paperwork to retire, but has simply stopped playing. Parise signed with the Colorado Avalanche in January and played in 30 games, recording five goals and five assists in just under 13 minutes per game. Parise was a key piece in the first round of the playoffs, scoring two goals in five games and Jonathan Drouin On Colorado’s second line.