The search for the next general manager has been narrowed, and apparently Pittsburgh Penguins assistant GM Chuck Fletcher is one of the finalists for the position...

With the help of a committee that includes former Wild CEO Jac Sperling, owner Craig Leipold has weeded down a list of nearly 30 applicants to a handful of men who bring vastly different perspectives to the job, multiple league and team sources say.

The short list includes Pittsburgh Penguins assistant GM Chuck Fletcher, TSN and NBC color analyst Pierre McGuire, longtime NHL GM and coach Pat Quinn, Nashville Predators assistant GM Paul Fenton and Wild acting GM Tom Lynn.

While other unidentified candidates possibly could emerge, sources say the two considered frontrunners have interviews lined up.

Fletcher, 41, is expected to be in town later this week, while it's believed McGuire, 47, will interview today.

Fletcher is seen as a "rising star" amongst league executives and many expect it's only a matter of time before he is handed the reigns of an NHL team as GM.  With the Penguins, Fletcher has been Ray Shero's right-hand man, with many responsibilities including being in charge of the ship down in Wilkes-Barre.

If it comes down to Fletcher against the ca-razy television analyst Pierre McGuire, could there be much doubt that the Pens will have a vacany in their front office soon?