With the draft and the opening wave of the free agency frenzy over, the summer campfire chat about next hockey season can really swing into high gear.
The opening topic of discussion will likely centre around the impact of Auston Matthews on the Maple Leafs. But, after they took him No. 1 in the draft, the Leafs were pretty quiet during the opening of free agency.
Montreal's trade of P.K Subban to Nashville is probably the next to ponder as the marshmallows are roasting. Did the Canadiens make the right move in sending the flashy blue-liner for the ultra-steady Olympian Shea Weber?
Was there more to this than meets the eye, and this speculation will certainly keep burning through the summer.
Did the Oilers get the right value for Taylor Hall, and will the move they made to sign Milan Lucic be part of the move back to respectability in the Alberta capital?
Can Eric Staal find a second-career gear in the Twin Cities with the Minnesota Wild, and is it possible Carter Hutton could be closer to starting role in St. Louis?
What will the champions Penguins do with Marc-Andre Fleury due to the emergence of Matt Murray? Can Sidney and the Pens repeat their success?
Is the NHL ready for Las Vegas, or is Las Vegas ready for the NHL?
And, how exciting will the upcoming World Cup be. Or is it really just a ratings-grab for Sportsnet?
Speaking of Sportsnet, was it the right move to bring back Ron McLean as Hockey Night in Canada Host.
Plenty of discussion points for those summer nights around the campfire.
