Ah, summertime.
A season of relaxation. Reflection. Rejuvenation.
If you're the architect of an NHL team with aspirations of competing for a Stanley Cup come fall, it's a combination of all three. Or at least, it should be.
The draft has come and gone. Free agency is in full swing. Granted, there wasn't an abundance of marquee names populating the 2023 class, but nonetheless good players were -- and still are -- available on the open market.
July 1 was a frantic afternoon of wheeling and dealing, particularly by those clubs who had zeroed in on their desired targets and were prepared to make a move.