"Are we there yet?"
"No."
"Are we there yet?"
"No."
"Are we there yet?"
"NO."
That's the mood of many Vegas Golden Knights fans waiting for next season to roll around. They anticipate the excitement and thrill associated with attending games at T-Mobile Arena and on the road.
Believe me, I'm already looking forward to next season. The anticipation of seeing other hockey cities and meeting hockey fans from across the globe is always fun. This past season? There were pit stops in Detroit and Vancouver, along with some games at T-Mobile Arena.
Next season? Adventures in the Lone Star State, Hollywood, and Canada (again) await. But those trips are a few good months away. In the meantime, let's see what's on the docket for the upcoming offseason.
1.) NHL Combine (June 1 through June 7)
Do you know how the NFL Combine tests various draft prospects? Their speed, strength, agility, and other attributes are checked by an array of scouts, seeing how viable they are in the sport.
Well, this is as close to a carbon copy as you can get. The only difference? It's for hockey players. You can bet your bottom dollar that Kelly McCrimmon has his eyes on the next set of superstars.
2.) The first NHL buyout period (June 15 or 48 hours after the Stanley Cup Final ends)
This is where NHL teams get the chance to buy out certain players. Simple as that.
3.) NHL Draft (June 27 and June 28)
This will be going down in Los Angeles, California, at the Peacock Theater. It should be a star-studded event with Matthew Schaefer projected to go No. 1 overall.
But what about the Golden Knights, you ask? Well, they don't have a first-round pick this year. Therefore, the first day is likely out of the question.
They have six overall picks to work with, with the earliest coming in the second round and the latest in the sixth round. Who could be the next Pavel Dorofeyev or Nicolas Hague? Stay tuned.
4.) Restricted free agents qualifying offer deadline (the latest is June 30)
Now, this date is particularly important in Hague's case. The restricted free agent is projected to earn a substantial deal in many circles (According to ScotiaStats, he's projected to get a three-year contract worth $3.7 million AAV).
What does Vegas do with the defenseman? Do they trade him to a team like the Philadelphia Flyers? June 30th is the final day for qualifying offers to be made to restricted free agents like Hague.
5.) NHL free agency begins (July 1st)
Now here's where the chaos starts. Of course, there's one major question on everyone's mind: where will Mitch Marner go?
Better yet, will we see McCrimmon upset the hockey world and lure the "Core Four" megastar in? Plenty of names loom for Vegas to pull in and bolster the roster. Don't count them out, either. The front office is known for throwing a curveball or two.