NHL: May 25, 2006

According to the Edmonton Sun, the Oilers' playoff success has created a beer shortage in the city. Many bars and liquor stores have been struggling to keep up with the demand, according to the newspaper. -- Los Angeles Times

Mighty Ducks coach Randy Carlyle is musing on pulling the reverse switch -- putting one-time playoff wunderkind Jean-Sebastien Giguere back between the pipes against the Oilers. -- Toronto Star

Are the Edmonton Oilers covering up injuries to players with an elaborate ruse about a nasty flu bug that's sweeping through the team? Without first-hand knowledge -- or access to the medical room or toilet stalls in the Edmonton dressing room -- Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle suggested as much before the ill and shorthanded Oilers beat his Mighty Ducks 5-4 to take a 3-0 series lead. -- Edmonton Sun

Avalanche fans may be worried Rob Blake won't be back with the team next season, but Blake isn't. Blake said he would call Avalanche president Pierre Lacroix this week, hoping to begin negotiations toward a new deal. -- Denver Post

Marc Savard will explore the unrestricted free agent market according to his agent, meaning the Thrashers could lose their top center without compensation. If Savard finds that the market will offer him $5 million per year or more, it's unlikely that the Thrashers would be able to afford him. Savard's agent, Larry Kelly, and Thrashers general manager Don Waddell agreed the team would not take advantage of its exclusive negotiating rights, which expire at midnight July 1. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Due to a snag in negotiations with candidate Ray Shero, the Bruins have now moved closer to naming Ottawa Senators assistant general manager and former Harvard hockey captain Peter Chiarelli as their next GM. -- Boston Herald

League sources say the Bruins studied hiring Senators assistant GM Peter Chiarelli to replace Mike O'Connell, but balked at giving Ottawa compensation. -- Ottawa Sun

Nashville assistant general manager Ray Shero has emerged as the top candidate to be the Penguins' next general manager. Shero reportedly was negotiating with the Boston Bruins for their general manager job, but those talks broke off yesterday over money and/or autonomy issues, and it's believed he then turned to the Penguins. -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Avalanche president Pierre Lacroix said he would continue to report to owner Stan Kroenke, so the essential change -- at least on paper -- seems to be the insertion of new executive vice president and general manager Francois Giguere on the step below Lacroix. -- Denver Post

The opening of the Maple Leafs' new practice rink likely will been pushed back at least a year. The proposed four-pad complex, estimated to be worth about $25 million, is to be located on a 10-acre plot just north of Lakeshore Collegiate. It was hoped the facility would be ready in time for the Leafs' 2007 training camp. -- Toronto Sun