BUFFALO, N.Y. – NHL teams not on their toes this week are at serious risk of some blunder that could be a grave setback.
Wednesday’s expansion announcement and the accompanying rules that will stock the new Las Vegas team next June precedes Friday’s and Saturday’s annual entry draft at the First Niagara Center.
Tuesday, teams learned next season’s salary cap maximum is US$73 million.
On Saturday, the official courting period with pending unrestricted free agents begins. Qualifying offers are due Monday for restricted free agents and the free-agent market opens July 1.
And every team is dealing with its own pending unrestricted and restricted free agents who need new contracts.