Dan’s Daily Links: UFA Frenzy Coming, Adams and Calder Trophies

One of the great side effects of the coming compressed NHL offseason will not only be the shortened period between the Stanley Cup presentation and the start of the season, but the draft and the free-agent frenzy will be just days apart. We have the Montreal Canadiens lines, Patrick Laine is worried about his game, Bruce Cassidy is getting involved with Torey Krug’s contract, Marc-Andre Fleury is absent, and will this be it for Justin Schultz in a Pittsburgh Penguins sweater?

Don’t worry, we’ve got more, too.

The Jack Adams award nominees were announced. You know I think Tortorella is one of the best coaches in the NHL. He definitely deserved a nod for his work this season, as the Columbus Blue Jackets were even more beset by injury than the Penguins. But to snub Mike Sullivan??  (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

The NHL has a handful of spectacular rookies. Here are the Calder Trophy nominees, including Cale Makar in Colorado (Colorado Hockey Now)

Is this Justin Schultz and the Pittsburgh Penguins last ride? What is up with Marc-Andre Fleury’s absence? Several fresh stories are on PHN+: (PHN+)

I’d love it if you considered subscribing as we continue to grow and push against the Pittsburgh establishment.

The free-agent frenzy will begin on Oct. 9 or seven days after the Stanley Cup Final. It will be unique, to say the least. The UFA start will be on the heels of the NHL Draft, AND–no interview or look period this year. It will be armageddon at noon, and that could create a lot of surprises (The Hockey News)

The Penguins will face the Montreal Canadiens in Game One on Aug. 1, at 8 p.m. Here are the Montreal lines as they take shape in camp (Eyes on the Prize)

Patrik Laine seems to fear his game readiness and the approaching playoffs. That can’t be good for Winnipeg (TSN)

The running joke is the Florida Panthers will have the least adjustment to playing in an empty arena. However, Florida is no joke. They’re getting ready for afternoon games against the New York Islanders. Perhaps Penguins fans should be rooting for Florida (Florida Hockey Now)

Boston Bruins boss Bruce Cassidy is a Jack Adams nominee. He’s also part therapist if the contract struggle for Torey Krug gets to be too much (Boston Hockey Now)