For NHL general manager of the year Jim Nill, the free agent frenzy didn't feel all that frenetic this year.
"We knew going in that there wasn't a lot of depth in this free agent group," said Nill, of the Dallas Stars. "The cap has increased a lot, so teams are able to sign their own guys. That's a major part it."
For NHL teams, that was one lesson learned. Here are four things we gleaned as free agency opened this week.
Higher salary cap, more reasons to stay home
NHL teams are usually bumping their heads up against the salary cap ceiling.