The Seattle Kraken picked their first roster from the NHL expansion draft this week, and the Entry Draft is now complete.
Seattle will open their season in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights on 12 October.
The free agency orgy of spending will take place starting this week, 28 July.
Between now and noon (ET) on Wednesday, there is an expected rush of trades to flesh out rosters.
“Everyone is going to turn their attention back to solidifying their NHL team,” Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said on NHL.com. “Free agency is going to open up in a few days and I suspect that the trade talk is going to pick up again in a few days.”
Most of the attention is being paid to Buffalo where the Sabres are actively shopping Jack Eichel around.
“I would have no problem at all if Jack Eichel is on our team when we start training camp,” Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said. “I have said this before and I’ll say it again: If we are in a position that we believe will help our franchise not just short term but for the long term in building this out, building around a core and a foundation of critical assets, then we’d be open to look at that. If we didn’t have that on the table or don’t think that makes sense, then we don’t do something. But, yeah, I have no problem with Jack being here.”
Sure.
A few moves and signings are expected before the noon crush. The Colorado Avalanche are hoping to secure Gabriel Landeskog and goalie Philipp Grubauer with contracts. After signing Cale Makar to a long-term deal, the Avs are focused on their goalie and captain.
“Both Philipp and Gabe, our captain, we’re hopeful that we can come to terms as well and have them signed to be a part of us as well,” Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said. “I won’t comment on the negotiations. They’re still going on. We still have time.”
Time is an elusive concept when suitors are lined up with flowers, candy and promises of love and commitment (until you have a bad year).
In Washington, DC, Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan is hoping to wrap up Alex Ovechkin before Wednesday to a deal that keeps him a Cap through the rest of his career.
“I think both parties want the same goal and I think we will get it done by then,” MacLellan said. “I anticipate us getting it done by then.”
Hard to imagine Ovechkin in any other sweater, but then again, that’s what New York Rangers fans thought with Henrik Lundqvist.
“I think we are making progress,” MacLellan said. “Our goal is to finish it up here by free agency.”
One player not returning to his team is Zach Hyman. He and the Toronto Maple Leafs are parting ways.
“So at that point I think it was fairly clear to us internally, based on the discussions and where they had been or even the feeling on it, that he was going to be on the move,” Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said. “You know, we had done what we could to try to make it work, and unfortunately we couldn’t.
“Everyone knows how we feel about Zach here, and even though it won’t be here, we are happy for him.”
Hyman is expected to sign a deal with the Edmonton Oilers this week.
In Raleigh,Dougie Hamilton is the concern for the Hurricanes. He was given permission to poke around the league to find out his value on the open market.
“Our No. 1 objective is to get him signed,” Carolina general manager Don Waddell said on NHL.com. “That hasn’t changed at all. Both of us agree that we have to get this resolved before free agency starts (July 28) because, if free agency starts, we need a defenseman. We can’t be patient and wait for Dougie to make a decision. We want Dougie back and we’re hoping we can do that this week.”
There’s that pesky time thing again.
The head scratchier of the week was courtesy of the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs selected Logan Mailloux at No. 31 of the first round.
Mailloux is a convicted criminal in Sweden; he photographed and distributed an image of a young woman without her consent.
“I do not think that I earned the right to be drafted,” Mailloux said in a video statement. “I just think my main goal is bettering myself as a person and as a character and [from] a community standpoint moving forward.
“And if that’s going to be in Montreal, then I’m going to be looking forward to it.”
Well, yeah.
“I know I caused a lot of harm to this person, and her family, and I regret doing this stupid and egotistical act,” Mailloux added. “I deeply regret it. What I did now is unfortunately a part of both her life and mine. I have apologized to her, but nonetheless, this will follow her for the rest of her life. And for that, I deeply and sincerely regret it.”
In a tone deaf and myopic statement, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin.
“We will work closely with him, give him the support he needs to — and I know he’s been remorseful about the incident, which we truly don’t agree with it in all sense of the word,” Bergevin said. “But he’s a young man who made a serious mistake of judgment, and we really have to work with him, and we did talk to him and he’s fully aware of that and very remorseful.”
Sure, let’s take care of the offender. 
The Rangers dealt with one of their headaches this weekend when they jettisoned Anthony DeAngelo by buying out his contract.
The forward was waived by New York after a post altercation between DeAngelo and teammates following a loss. It was simply the last straw.
“I think it’s best for him and best for us,” Rangers general manager Chris Drury said. “I had a good conversation with Tony yesterday morning, wished him well and certainly we wish him well with whatever comes next for him in his career.”
DeAngelo had not played for the Rangers since 30 January.
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