A shorter offseason means even less time between the end of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the start of serious trade talks.
As the Tampa Bay Lightning continue to celebrate their second title in franchise history, they'll want to keep an eye on their phones to make sure they aren't left out of the loop. Already the NHL has seen a number of deals—both small and large—completed with the likes of Marc Staal, Patric Hornqvist and Dylan Sikura on the move.
Those deals are more than likely a precursor for what's to come.
With the NHL Draft coming up in early October, talks around the league are beginning to produce some rumors that bear watching.