The holiday is over, summer is almost done, it's time for serious business. In theory. Nothing happened over the weekend, so if it's going to heat up, now might be the time.

This month, there is one more event before training camp, the prospect tournament on the weekend after next. Training camp should open during the week after.

Assuming the Leafs want to send Dennis Hildeby to Montréal (for the tournament) they need to get him signed to a contract soon. Other than him, the RFAs with NHL time last year who are unsigned are:

  • Mason McTavish
  • Luke Hughes
  • Luke Evangelista
  • Connor Zary
  • Alexander Holtz
  • Rasmus Kupari
  • Wyatt Kaiser
  • Donovan Sebrango

This is the list of UFAs with NHL games played:

Some number of those 40 players have announced their retirement, and some have taken jobs in Europe. The team logos next to names indicates a PTO.

Matt Grzelcyk, Jack Roslovic, Brett Leason, Robby Fabbri, Kevin Labanc, Kevin Rooney, Tyler Motte, Brock McGinn, Noah Gregor, Klim Kostin, John Merrill, Matt Nieto and Jani Hakanpåå are the only players on the list under 35 and not retired or signed elsewhere.

What I learned from looking all that up is that playing for the Sharks or the Ducks as you near 30 is the end of your NHL career, and you might need to consider an AHL deal if you don't want to cross the ocean.

There are rumours Kirill Kaprizov is due to sign a bit extension. And since Connor McDavid made an effort to cool off the talk of his extension, I actually expect it on day one of training camp.

For now, that's it. We'll see where all this goes this month.

We have five T25 articles for you this week, and then the final countdown will be next week.

Happy Faux Monday everyone. Hope it's a good one.

From The Branches