from Joshua Clipperon of the CP at CBC,

The cap is slated to remain at $81.5 million US for the foreseeable future, and it's likely a number of franchises will look to go below that number in actual dollars spent.

So how does that impact the job of the NHL's 31 GMs with the draft set for Oct. 6 and 7, and free agency slated to open two days later on Oct. 9?

"It's unprecedented," said Brad Treliving of the Calgary Flames. "It's a significantly different world. There'll be lots of activity, there'll be lots of discussion. It'll take some work, no question, but that's the job in front of us is."

Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas said the speed at which everything will transpire after the Stanley Cup is handed out at an empty Rogers Place in Edmonton will be fascinating.

"It's really tough to project," he said. "The unknowns right now are at a level still far beyond hockey."...

"It's uncharted territory for all of us," said Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin, who secured the services of backup goalie Jake Allen in a trade with the St Louis Blues last month before acquiring defenceman Joel Edmundson from the Carolina Hurricanes over the weekend. "With the cap being flat and without knowing when teams will be able to have fans in the stands, with revenues, it affects the salary cap.

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