And now, we enter the doldrums of the NHL off-season, where activity grinds to a near halt. There'll be a steady trickle of low-level restricted free agent signings (hey, the Hurricanes inked Brody Sutter and Keegan Lowe!) and the occasional entry-level deal, but for the most part we're left to count down the days until the start of training camps.
Unless...
While nothing's on the front burner, there are several situations that could develop quickly. And if they do, they could have a dramatic effect on the 2016-17 season. Here are five that we're monitoring for developments.