Rumor: Barry Trotz down to the final 3 teams.

In spite of the fact that he has conducted numerous interviews and has even reportedly turned down some offers from teams in the National Hockey League, former New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz has yet to make his mind up about what team he intends to join next.

On Sunday, National Hockey League insider Elliotte Friedman shared some additional insights on the Barry Trotz front and narrowed the field considerably in terms of which teams are believed to be in the running. Based on Friedman's comments, it sounds like many of the teams that were once considered to be in the running for the job are no longer in that position.

"You take a look at who you considered your main competition.... you've seen Vegas go somewhere else, you've seen Trotz say no to Philly," began Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast. "And so all of a sudden you know Trotz is still out there. I don't think it's Dallas I think that ship has sailed. I don't think it's gonna be Boston, I think they are gonna go somewhere a little newer and a little different. I still think Detroit has been around it... but until Steve Yzerman closes the book you don't close the book. And I don't think it's gonna be Florida, I really don't."

The insider would go on to further narrow down the list by limiting it to just three teams in total. According to Friedman it sounds like the Winnipeg Jets and the Detroit Red Wings may be the last two teams in the race as far as hiring Trotz as a coach is concerned, with the Nashville Predators also in the mix but for a managerial role.

"So all of a sudden  you're playing process of elimination," said Friedman of the Winnipeg Jets. "You're thinking ok it's us, maybe Detroit, maybe he takes a year off, or maybe he goes into Nashville's front office, but if he wants to coach it's looking much more optimistic this week than last week for the Jets"

Friedman would go on to describe how he feels the Jets can offer Trotz a "comfortable" situation in Winnipeg and it almost sounds like the Jets may have become the frontrunner.

"I think Barry Trotz knows that if he wants to coach in Winnipeg, he is going to have a comfortable situation," said Friedman.