Didn’t envision this setting for my NHL Draft Eve 2020, yet here we are. Nevertheless, looking forward to joining @CraigJButton from TOR, @Liam_mchugh & Pierre McGuire from @NHLonNBCSports studios, for Tuesday’s broadcast of the draft. Show starts at 6:30 pm ET, draft at 7.

Mostly busy with draft prep, prospect stuff etc., for Tuesday’s show but have heard some trade talk chatter and pre-Free Agent Frenzy maneuvering along the way. Such as:

Cup champs TB have let it be known to other teams they aim to be aggressive in offloading . How aggressive? Hearing teams have been told only four Bolts are unavailable/untouchable: Vasilevskiy; Hedman; Point; Kucherov. Presumably, RFAs Cirelli, Sergachev and Cernak, too.

A big reason for moving is to be able to sign those young RFAs. Notably absent from untouchable list is captain Steven Stamkos. That doesn’t guarantee Stamkos will be dealt but it’s within realm of possibility though his health could obviously be a factor.

The point is multiple bodies may need to go. Stamkos may or may not end up being one of them, but he doesn’t appear to be exempt from that consideration, as Vasilevskiy, Hedman, Kucherov and Point are. Complicating things is so many teams trying to shed . Interesting week.

Also looking forward to joining @tsnjamesduthie @DarrenDreger @PierreVLeBrun @frank_seravalli and our @TSNHockey crew for Friday’s Free Agent Frenzy. Things are already heating up on that front.

As @DarrenDreger reported Monday, ARI is shopping Taylor Hall’s UFA rights. We’re also waiting to see if STL makes one final effort to re-sign captain Alex Pietrangelo before he is scheduled to go to the open market at noon ET on Friday.

Although bought-out ex-NYR goalie Henrik Lundqvist is currently UFA, he cannot formalize an agreement until Friday. That said, the word on the street is that WSH is the clear frontrunner for the King’s services on what would presumably be a short-term, bargain contract.

That would make sense both ways. WSH would get capable vet on affordable deal to platoon/push burgeoning No. 1 Ilya Samsonov, who’s only 23. Lundqvist would get good chance to play decent number of games on a team with a chance to contend. And in the Metro Division, no less.

In any case, it should be a fun week, even for a semi-retired, senior citizen Insiderrrrr(?) who desperately needs his beauty sleep if he’s going to be back on TV tonight for the first time since early August. G’nite.