NHL Offseason: Big Trades, Free Agency Loom

The NHL offseason is marked by aggressive trade and free agency activity, with stars like Mitch Marner drawing significant interest from contenders such as Dallas and Vegas. Players and agents are adapting to a swiftly increasing salary cap by considering shorter contract terms. Teams including the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets, Vancouver Canucks, and Montreal Canadiens are preparing for potential roster shakeups to free up cap space. The Buffalo Sabres are actively shopping JJ Peterka, attracting attention from the Rangers, Islanders, Blackhawks, Lightning, and Canucks. The upcoming NHL draft and the July 1 opening of free agency are expected to drive a surge in transactions, while prospect Matthew Schaefer's story has become a draft highlight. Free agent Vladislav Gavrikov remains a target for teams like the Rangers seeking to strengthen their defense.