Philadelphia Flyers GM Ron Hextall has already developed a reputation as a man who plays things close to the chest.
In his short time at the helm of the NHL's Philly-based franchise, Hextall has let little in the way of rumors or reports of his interests or intentions slip to the viewing public.
It's an important veil of secrecy that may initially infuriate content-hungry Flyers fans, but will, in all likelihood, prove a major boon in Hextall's efforts to rebuild Philadelphia in a more successful image.
To that end, talk has swirled since Hextall canned former head coach Craig Berube that his top candidate to replace the departed Chief is long-time Detroit Red Wings bench boss Mike Babcock - perhaps proving that his recently implemented cone of silence is not yet all-encompassing - but nothing definitive.
If Babcock is, in fact, the apple of Hextall's eye, it seems, according to Craig Custance of ESPN, that it's the NHL futures of the Flyers forward group and, more specifically, captain Claude Giroux and Jake "Baby Jagr" Voracek, that will ultimately sway Babcock's mind.
"There's a thread that connects the contenders for Babcock's services, and it's the lure of a franchise centerman -- something that is critical to Stanley Cup playoff success," writes Custance. "The Edmonton Oilers, if they eventually come calling, can sell Connor McDavid. The Sabres will have a plan built around Jack Eichel, a center who has drawn comparisons to both Evgeni Malkin and Ryan Getzlaf."
If Babcock's recent comments on the Flyers captain are any indication, he'd likely relish the opportunity to work with Giroux.
"Giroux is ultra competitive, ultra smart and very talented," Babcock said Tuesday, per Custance. "He's a real player, that guy. High-end player. I love watching him play."
Giroux is on the smaller size for an elite centerman, but in today's NHL, which places a premium on speed and skill, he brings more than enough tough grittiness to the table to both survive and thrive as the top centerman for the Flyers.
While Giroux wears the 'C' for the Flyers, his linemate Voracek, who is currently donning the 'C' for the Czech Republic at the World Championships, may prove just as integral to landing Babcock.
Voracek, who displayed a consistency and finishing ability this season he'd only flashed in previous years, managed to post 81 points in 82 games. At 25, he seems to have ample room for growth and development in the NHL.
"You gain experience every time you step on the ice. No matter where it is, no matter how important the game," Voracek said. "You learn throughout your career, every single game -- experiences like this can help me in my progress in my career. Eventually I hope it can help me win a Stanley Cup."
Babcock, who has done wonders with players like Tomas Tatar and Gustav Nyquist in Detroit, could presumably help Voracek blossom from a great player into a truly elite, high-impact performer.
In the end though, it won't just be Giroux, or Voracek or a younger forward like Sean Couturier that sways Babcock - his considerations will go much deeper as well.
"It's going to be about relationship, plan and opportunity," Babcock said. "And then you go back to your wife and family."
Luckily for Hextall and Co., if Babcock - he of the two Olympic gold medals, an IIHF World Championship and a Stanley Cup - were to land elsewhere, other attractive options remain.
One of those options, former San Jose Sharks head coach Todd McLellan, is being afforded an up close and personal look at much of the Philadelphia talent while he coaches Team Canada at the Worlds.
McLellan is widely viewed as the favorite to land with the Oilers, but nothing is yet set in stone and there's no doubting that he'd play well in Philadelphia - really, he seems like he'll likely play well wherever he lands; things in the San Jose locker room had gotten so bad that it's hard to fault him for being unable to keep Joe Thornton and the rest of the Sharks crew together.
Playing under McLellan, per Giroux, has been an eye-opening experience and has him, admittedly, thinking about what type of chemistry the pair could cultivate as top members of the Flyers.
"Of course, you kind of think about that," Giroux said. "[McLellan] brings a lot of smart things to the table for us. To see different coaches, how they coach, we're lucky enough to have four or five coaches who are really smart here who can help us."
What direction the Flyers and Hextall choose to go remains to be seen, but there's simply no denying that the rookie GM is set to make the first truly monumental decision of his tenure.
