La Presse and The Star Tribune report that Blair Mackasey has been granted permission from the Minnesota Wild to interview with the Montreal Canadiens for their vacant job for general manager.
Mackasey, the Wild's director of player personnel, has worked in Minnesota for six seasons after joining the club from Hockey Canada.
While with Hockey Canada, Mackasey was responsible for all player evaluation and player selections for Canada's National Junior Team Development and Selection Camps as well as Canada's Men's Under-18 Program. He worked with Canada's management and coaching staff in player evaluations for the 2006 Men's Olympic Hockey Team.
During his four seasons with Hockey Canada, he won back-to-back gold medals and two silver medals at the World Junior Hockey Championship.
Mackasey was also a scout for the Phoenix Coyotes and spent three seasons as a head coach in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Granby Bisons and the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
The Canadiens began their GM search after the firing of general manager Pierre Gauthier on Mar. 29, with owner and team president Geoff Molson and newly-appointed advisor Serge Savard leading the hiring process.
Others rumoured to be in the running for the job include Tampa Bay Lightning assistant GM Julien BriseBois, Chicago Blackhawks assistant GM Marc Bergevin, Maple Leafs assistant GM Claude Loiselle and Quebec Remparts coach/GM and former Canadien Patrick Roy.
