EP Rinkside mailbag: Figuring out free agency

We are now one week into free agency, and there are plenty of questions still to be answered. Some big names remain unsigned, some teams have big holes to fill, and it certainly feels like some GMs are increasingly on the hot seat.

Let’s get to it:

K-J asks: "Given that the Colorado Avalanche are the defending champions and are well-positioned for sustained success, why is it we’re seeing the bulk of the arms race take place in the Eastern Conference while much of the West is staying stagnant?"

Purely anecdotally, I mostly think this is a timing thing. You can make an argument that it's a result of teams in the West having been in a bit of an arms race the last few years, meaning they locked in talent for several seasons more recently than a lot of top Eastern Conference teams.

That means the