You have to give some serious credit to Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill this offseason. Not only has he perfectly navigated this frantic offseason so far, but he has also taken every opportunity possible to get things done ahead of time.
It feels like things have been going a mile a minute since each NHL team turned in their protected lists on Jun. 17. Since then, there has been the protected list reveal, the NHL Awards and expansion draft, seven rounds of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, and finally a negotiating window for free agents and their former teams.