McKenzie: Canucks to meet and discuss coaching vacancy with Dan Bylsma

The Vancouver Canucks are still without a replacement head coach for John Tortorella, who was relieved of his duties in early May. That the Canucks' coaching search is proceeding slowly isn't a huge surprise. Willie Desjardins of the Texas Stars - the presumptive "leading candidate" - is still coaching in the Calder Cup Final. 

While they wait around to speak with Desjardins, the Canucks are reportedly kicking the tires on another, higher profile, head coach. "We hear that Dan Bylsma, if he's not in Vancouver now, he may be there very soon just to talk to them about that possibility," said Bob McKenzie during a segment with the NHL Network on Thursday. 

Bylsma, who was fired by the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this month after being left to twist in the wind for three weeks while the majority of head coaching jobs were filled, was described by Canucks general manager Jim Benning as "interesting" following his dismissal in Pittsburgh. 

Despite Benning's statement of apparent interest, it has been suggested that Bylsma doesn't dramatically "upset the apple cart" for the Canucks' coaching search. That McKenzie's report, for example, didn't describe a possible meeting between Bylsma and the Canucks as "an interview" would suggest that talks between the two sides remain somewhat informal at this stage.