*Conference Finals kick off tonight out west, with the first of the games between the Vegas Golden Knights (boo) and the Colorado Avalanche (yay!), and here are ten storylines you’re going to want to keep an eye on as the Finals begin. [NHL.com]
*Related, how’s about a preview of this Western Conference Final? [Sportsnet]
*And how’s about a preview of the Eastern Conference Final too, before it gets underway tomorrow? [Sportsnet]
*And THEN, how’s about a preview of both of them together?! Surely you now feel sufficiently previewed. [TSN]
*Feels like we (we being the like… collective hockey world) have been saying for years that “this is the Hurricanes’ year, for sure” only for them to fall short. But maybe this year really is the Hurricanes’ year. [The Athletic]
*Here’s something that may become relevant to our collective interest this summer: the NHL has laid out this year’s compensation tiers for teams that sign a player via offer sheet. The spiciest kind of signing there is. [RMNB]
*Anyway, the Flyers! Know who was a pleasantly surprisingly good Flyer this season? Young Alex Bump, that’s who. [BSH]
*Dan Vladar, quite understandably, developed a bit of a chip on his shoulder during this short little taste of the playoffs. And he’s going to carry it with him until we get to next season. [NBC Sports Philly]
*While we’re talking about him, should the Flyers resign Danny Vladdy this summer? And if they do, what’s it going to cost them? [BSH]
*And while we’re talking signings, Trevor Zegras wants to be a Flyers, so there’s no reason why Trevor Zegras shouldn’t be a Flyers for a good, long time. [NBC Sports Philly]
*Next up on the BSH Community Draft Board is a potential superstar coming out of the Swedish Hockey League. [BSH]
*And finally, instead of a draft ranking, this time we’ve got a mock draft. Which is different. Enjoy! [The Athletic]
