The 2021 NHL playoffs are looming, with the first round of games scheduled to begin on May 11. For teams battling for playoff positioning, it's a critical time; for teams unlikely to make the playoffs, another set of challenges is on the horizon.
For teams that miss out on the postseason, tough coaching and roster decisions lie ahead. Some of those choices could be magnified by the fact that the Seattle Kraken expansion draft is scheduled to take place on July 21. Some players who aren't protected will inevitably be gone.
Coaching decisions will likely come first, though.