A free-play game can be the difference between winning or losing in free-form tournaments.
But with thousands of free-agent players expected to enter the NHL next season, and many of them hoping to be in the NHL for the long haul, some of those free-spots have become an issue.
Here are a few things to watch for.
1.
Where are the ice centers?
Many of the free-agency contracts the teams are looking to sign will come with an annual cap hit that’s set by the league, not the player.
In other words, if the team is bidding for a top-four defenseman, it will be paying $2.4 million per year.
And if the player has signed a contract worth $2 million, the cap hit will be $3.4.
So, if a player signs for $2 and the team has signed another $2 for $3, that’s a $3-million cap hit on top of the $1 million cap hit he already has on the contract.
That’s one reason why many teams are paying for players to play at the arena that’s playing out of their hotel rooms.
It’s also a reason why teams are going to try to use a free hotel suite to hold practice, or even scrimmages.
“It’s a little bit like the locker room,” said veteran NHL defenceman Mike Condon.
“You’re there for two days.
Then you go to the hotel.
And you’re there, you’re playing hockey, you’ve got your equipment and your clothes on.
And in practice, you have to wear your team sweater. “
Then you’re going to go to practice.
And in practice, you have to wear your team sweater.
So it’s very, very, important that your gear is on.”
2.
Where’s the ice?
It’s a very different experience playing ice hockey in a hotel room than in a locker room, said Toronto Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle.
“In a hotel, you don’t have the luxury of having a TV on,” Carlyle said.
“And there’s no video boards.
So you have a lot of little things to keep your eyes on.”
3.
Is the game more physical than other free-skating games?
Yes.
In fact, a player’s head must be in contact with the ice at all times.
But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be as physical as hockey in the regular season.
“If you’re in the gym, it’s the same thing,” said Edmonton Oilers captain David Perron.
“But it’s more physical.
And that’s the difference. “
So you’re trying to hit your shots as hard as you can.
And that’s the difference.
But it’s a lot harder than it used to be.”
4.
Can you play against other players in the hotel?
Yes, although the hotel is the only arena in which players can play against each other.
And some teams will only allow players to practice against each player on their team, unless they sign a contract.
This is a big change, because free-sorts are typically a way to get practice with players from other teams.
And many of the teams who are signing players to a contract will only give them a practice or two a day.
“There’s no time to sit and think about it,” said Toronto Blue Jays coach John Gibbons.
“They’re going over a lot.
And they’ll get back to you, and they’re going back and forth.
And it’s tough.”
5.
What happens when players leave the hotel room?
It will be up to the players to decide if they want to return home, and the hotels players will be asked to leave the room after the games are over.
The players will also have to pay for the hotel stay, and will have to return to their hotel room before the game.
6.
How can you get to a free rink?
The only way to go into the hotel or hotel rooms is by renting one from a hotel manager.
There’s also an option for players who want to take their own hotel room, or to use the hotel manager’s suite.
For those who want a room at their hotel, there are three options available.
The first is a room for $100 per night.
The second is a suite for $250 per night or $1,000 per night per room.
The third option is to rent the suite of the player’s choice.
7.
Can the hotel be booked online?
Yes and no.
While the rooms will be booked, the players will need to call the hotel and request the room.
They will then have to book the room at the hotel that night.
8.
What is a team’s free-spot schedule?
There are four teams that play on every free-stand ice surface: the Colorado Avalanche, Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings and the Winnipeg Jets.
These teams have a free spot schedule each day, and those players