Afternoon Hits: Blues, Maple Leafs, Blackhawks, Wild, Kings, Penguins and Capitals

Dan Rosen: The Blues have hired Kirk Muller as an assistant coach.

James Mirtle: Recently fired Maple Leafs assistant coach Scott Gordon: “I can’t tell you how many times that Randy has said that the thought of trading Jake can’t even be discussed.” …. “If we’re the scapegoats, we’re the scapegoats… All I know is Randy pushed for us to get an extension last year.”

Mark Lazerus: Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said that Andrew Shaw should skate in the next day or two. He wouldn’t speculate if Shaw could get back into the lineup for Game 7.

Randy Sportak: Wild’s Keith Ballard, Darcy Kuemper and Matt Moulson all skated this morning. Shawn Roarke: Looking like Ballard will be back in the lineup with Nate Prosser coming out. Moulson is close but won’t play. Kuemper will likely be the backup.

Pierre LeBrun: Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell skated by himself this morning.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Chris Kunitz: “Our success comes when we have the puck, playing deep, not turning it over, not giving them a chance to play with their speed.”

Chuck Gormley: Capitals Dmitri Orlov broke his arm at the World Championships.

Adam Vingan: The Capitals and the Hershey Bears (AHL) extended their affiliate agreement through next year.