The 2016 offseason is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory. Many trades that could have taken place before the trade deadline were scuttled due to the cap constraints that limit in-season dealing. Much of that chatter has spilled over into the summer, meaning this offseason has the potential to be busier than ever.
NHL teams completed 42 trades between June 1st and July 1st last season.
Here's how June shapes up this year:
June 15: Last possible day of the Stanley Cup Playoffs (and first day that all 30 NHL teams are in offseason mode).
June 22: NHL Board of Governors will vote on expansion. If expansion is approved, this means there will be an expansion draft that has rules that will, in effect, force teams to trade good players before the draft. In particular, teams can only protect 1 goalie and a maximum of 8 skaters, potentially exposing a lot of NHL talent to the draft.
Evening of June 24: 1st round of the NHL Entry Draft. It's rumoured that several teams will trade their 2016 first round picks this year. I wrote about which teams are believed to be shopping their first rounders in 2016. A total of 11 pick swaps were made in last year's draft.
Afternoon of June 25: Rounds 2-7 of the NHL Entry Draft.
12:01 AM ET, June 28: Teams can begin talking to pending RFAs, but cannot make offers or exchange numbers.
1 pm ET, July 1: Unrestricted Free Agency begins. Also the start of when teams can submit offer sheets to RFAs on any team.
Top pending UFAs:
1. Steven Stamkos
2. Milan Lucic
3. Andrew Ladd
4. Keith Yandle
5. David Backes
See the rest on the Free Agency Rumour Board.
Top players likely to be traded:
1. Tyson Barrie
2. Frederik Andersen
3. Kevin Shattenkirk
4. Rick Nash
5. Nail Yakupov
See the rest on the Trade Rumour Board.
As of this post, there are two coaching vacancies in the NHL in Calgary and Anaheim. Check out the rumoured candidates on the Coaching Rumour Board.