By JD Lagrange – When your team is out of the playoffs, we are smack down the middle of a period where nothing happens. As fans, all we have to do is sit here and envy the fans of teams still battling for NHL supremacy, the Stanley Cup. Or we repeat the same old stuff on social media over and over again, like whom the Canadiens should select with their first pick at the Draft, until we’re blue in the face… as some do.
For that reason, for those whom, like me, don’t want to get into another “Draft Shane Wright or else…” type scenario (currently happening with Matvei Michkov), I have decided to list the off-season’s next few upcoming important dates.
They are:
– June 4-10: NHL Scouting Combine
From Buffalo, NY this year.
– Buyout period
Can start on the later of June 15 or 48 hours after the Playoffs end, and the buyout period ends June 30th at 5:00 pm Eastern, the day prior to the start of free agency.
– June 26: NHL Awards
The Awards will be held in Nashville this year.
– June 28-29: NHL Draft
From Nashville as well. The Canadiens are set to speak fifth at this year’s NHL Draft. They also own the Florida Panthers’ first round pick, which will be anywhere between 29-32, depending how far they make it in these playoffs.
– JUNE 30: QUALIFYING OFFERS
Normally, Qualifying Offers to Restricted Free Agents (required by teams to retain their RFA rights) are due by the later of June 25 and the Draft. This year, because the draft is June 28/29 and free agency starts on Sat July 1, the Qualifying Offer deadline is June 30.
– July 1st: Start of Free Agency
For a complete list of available Unrestricted and Restricted pending Free Agents, Capfriendly.com has a great tool which allows you to narrow down and sort your result in many different ways.
Get fresh air
In the meantime, do as I do. Spend less time on social media, particularly arguing with people who will do anything to convince you that they’re experts, and enjoy the Spring and Summer days. Get some sunshine, which is excellent for the morale and well-being. Spend time with your loved ones.
Remember that when arguing with a fool, make sure that the other person isn’t doing the same. Also, know that they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience, as Mark Twain once explained…