NHL trade activity expected to increase ahead of free agency

The business of the NHL offseason will stay busy with the 2021 NHL Draft in the rearview.

NHL teams now refocus from the future to the present with trade talks expected to continue in advance of the free agent market opening July 28 at noon ET.
The market will be dictated by the NHL salary cap of $81.5 million, but there is expected to be a lot of activity.
"Everyone is going to turn their attention back to solidifying their NHL team," Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said. "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."
RELATED: [NHL Trade Tracker]
The biggest news will likely swirl around center Jack Eichel and his future with the Buffalo Sabres, who could trade him after already trading defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen to the Philadelphia Flyers and forward Sam Reinhart to the Florida Panthers this weekend.
Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said after the first round of the draft Friday that he is fielding calls on Eichel. He said he spoke to Eichel's agent, Peter Fish, twice Saturday, and has not ruled out keeping him the Buffalo captain.
"I would have no problem at all if Jack Eichel is on our team when we start training camp," 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."
But Fish and Eichel's other agent, Peter Donatelli, told Sportsnet they don't think that will happen.
"Our expectation is that Jack is going to be traded in the near future, and all of our discussions have been centered around that issue," Fish and Donatelli said.
The expansion Seattle Kraken plan to be active entering the free agent market for the first time.
"Certainly we think there are some players in free agency that we'd like to have a discussion with, and hopefully we're able to convince them to come and join our organization," Kraken general manager Ron Francis said.
Several teams have already addressed needs through trades or signing their own would-be free agents.
The Colorado Avalanche got defenseman Cale Makar, a pending restricted free agent, under contract for six years and $54 million ($9 million average annual value). They'd like to re-sign forward Gabriel Landeskog and goalie Philipp Grubauer; each can become an unrestricted free agent.
"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."
The Boston Bruins signed forward Taylor Hall, a pending unrestricted free agent, to a four-year, $24 million contract ($6 million AAV). They still have center David Krejci, as a pending UFA.
"I have been in regular communication with David, and there's no timeline to make decisions," Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said Thursday.

The Chicago Blackhawks acquired defenseman
Seth Jones
from the Columbus Blue Jackets and will reportedly sign him to a long-term contract extension.
The Flyers retooled their defense with Ristolainen and Ryan Ellis in a trade with the Nashville Predators. Philadelphia also made a 1-for-1 trade with the Blue Jackets, getting forward Cam Atkinson for forward Jakub Voracek.
The Vancouver Canucks got defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes. The Panthers got Reinhart in a trade with the Sabres. The Edmonton Oilers re-signed goalie Mike Smith to a two-year, $4.4 million contract ($2.2 million AAV).
The St. Louis Blues acquired forward Pavel Buchnevich in a trade with the New York Rangers.
But there's still much more expected to come.

The goalie market should be intriguing with many teams looking for help, particularly with the NHL returning to an 82-game schedule that will be compressed because of the built-in break from Feb. 7-22 for the potential return to the Winter Olympics.
The Bruins, Sabres, Flyers, Predators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes and San Jose Sharks are among the teams that figure to be involved through free agency or trades. Colorado will be too, if Grubauer leaves.
The goaltending market could include either Robin Lehner or Vezina Trophy winner Marc-Andre Fleury if the Vegas Golden Knights decide to trade one of them.
Canucks goalie Braden Holtby might be available in a trade, general manager Jim Benning said.
The market for defenseman is led by pending UFA Dougie Hamilton from the Hurricanes.
Ryan Suter
,
Keith Yandle
, Alexander Edler, David Savard, Alec Martinez, Tyson Barrie and Zdeno Chara also each can become an unrestricted free agent.
The Winnipeg Jets acquired
Brenden Dillon from the Washington Capitals on Monday, and the Wild and New Jersey Devils have also said they'll be actively looking for defensemen.
"We need it," Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin said. "The trade market is not dead either. It's still an option. We can work at it through free agency and we can work at it through the trade market."
That will be the task for all teams in the coming days now that the draft is behind them.
It will be busy.