There’s not a lot of hockey left in the 2016-17 season. After the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators play game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final tonight, there could very well only be one game remaining in the year.
That’s pretty crazy to think about, especially if you are a general manager in the NHL. That’s because immediately after the Cup is hoisted by its newest owner, a jam-packed month of June will officially ensue for the entire league.
Every team has a lot on their plate that must be broken down and dealt with. The buyout period, expansion draft, entry draft, and re-signing of pending free agents all lead up to the opening of free agency on July 1.