from Michael Traikos of the National Post,

Who is going to be traded between now and the start of the season?

Whether it is Eichel or St. Louis’ Vladimir Tarasenko, there appears to be a lot of big-name players sitting on the trading block. Cap space could be a motivating factor in any deal. Heading into training camp, 10 teams were above the $81.5-million limit, meaning something will have to give between now and the start of the season. Of the teams having to make a move, look for Boston to be pretty active. The Bruins enter training camp with about $80-million in cap space — and that’s without them having a safety net in place for goalie Linus Ullmark or a second-line centre to replace David Krejci. They also have a forward in Jake DeBrusk, who has received interest in the past from Edmonton and Calgary, and who became even more expendable after the team signed Taylor Hall. A deal for San Jose’s Tomas Hertl would appear to make a lot of sense.

Will any of the 2021 draft picks step into the NHL?

Owen Power’s decision to return to college rather than play for the Sabres means that for the first time since 2006, the No. 1 overall pick won’t be stepping right into the NHL. It’s not just Power who is taking himself out of the Calder Trophy conversation. Matty Beniers, who Seattle selected at No. 2, will be joining Power at the University of Michigan. That leaves Anaheim’s Mason McTavish, who was the third-overall pick and played against men last season in the Swiss league, as perhaps the only player out of this year’s draft with a chance at cracking an NHL roster this year. Other rookies looking to make the full-time jump are Minnesota’s Marco Rossi (9th overall, 2020), Winnipeg’s Cole Perfetti (10th, ’20) and Vancouver’s Vasily Podkolzin (10th, ’19). Of course, with Montreal’s Cole Caufield (15th, ’19) technically still a rookie, the Calder seems to be his to lose.

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