:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67391821/1157617850.jpg.0.jpg)
The NHL’s timeline for next season is still a mystery, but as the Conference Finals continue, the rest of the off-season dates are coming into focus.
The NHL announced two major dates today: the NHL draft will take place on October 6th and October 7th, and the free agency period begins on October 9th. The first night of the draft, which is must-see TV for Rangers fans, starts at 6 PM Central, and day two picks up starting at 10:30 AM on Wednesday. Broadcast information is forthcoming.
Blues fans are probably more interested in the start of free agency on the 9th, because that’s the deadline to get a deal done with Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo. Despite shoring up multiple contracts during the play stoppage and recently with Jacob de la Rose, Doug Armstrong doesn’t seem to have made much progress in negotiations with Pietrangelo.
The NHL has confirmed Oct. 9 as the opening day of free agency. That means the Blues and Pietrangelo have less than a month to reach a deal. As I've written recently, there has been no progress. Things can change in a hurry, but it doesn't look promising at the moment. #stlblues
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) September 11, 2020