Around the NHL

NHL general managers preparing for new economic realities brought on by COVID-19 | CBC Sports
The cap is slated to remain at $81.5 million US for the foreseeable future, and it’s likely a number of franchises will look to go below that number in actual dollars spent.

So how does that impact the job of the NHL’s 31 GMs with the draft set for Oct. 6 and 7, and free agency slated to open two days later on Oct. 9?

It is a situation we haven’t seen in a while. While it seems like GMs are still more than happy to bail out their colleagues, there could be some opportunities for the Red Wings to take advantage, now that they have cap space.

Hedman proves again in East Final he was right draft pick for Lightning
Victor Hedman could have been a member of the New York Islanders. Instead, the defenseman is on the verge of helping the Tampa Bay Lightning eliminate them in the Eastern Conference Final.

“When I watch him now, I think about how the Islanders could have taken him at No. 1 in the 2009 (NHL) Draft,” said Brian Lawton, the general manager of the Lightning at the time. “But they chose John Tavares and Victor dropped to us at No. 2.

“To be honest with you, I could not have been more comfortable picking second under any scenario because I felt so comfortable with Victor. That’s the honest-to-God truth. Even though we didn’t win the lottery it was like, ‘Wow, that’s probably the best thing that could have ever happened to us.'”

Tavares – Hedman – Duchene is a hell of a top three from 2009.