Hockey fans are going to reap the benefits of the cap hell many teams find themselves in.
The NHL has put a pause on any increase in the salary cap so teams who bank on having a little extra money to work with each year will have to make some difficult decisions.
The names being thrown around in trade rumours are at the top of the charts: Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine, Vegas’ Marc-Andre Fleury, Arizona captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Even the Tampa Bay Lightning are trying to clear space — and everyone is available from the Stanley Cup champions except for Hedman, Kucherov, Point and Vasilevskiy.
Yes, that’s right. Not even Steven Stamkos is on the Lightning’s list of untouchables.
First up is the draft today and tomorrow and then later this week, it’s free agency. However, we could be in for what could feel like a week-long trade deadline.
So pay attention because the moves made this week will have a larger impact on the future NHL season than anything you’ll see at the overhyped trade deadline … whenever that season is going to be played in 2021.