Summary:

What the hell is a "free agent" and why is Ilya Rozanov one at the end of Heated Rivalry? Would Cliff be suspended for that hit on Shane? How many times a season do Montreal and Boston play each other? How is the order of draft picks determined? How do hockey trades work?

All this and more is answered in this guide to how the NHL (and thus maybe the MLH) works! This isn't about the rules of playing hockey, but instead the rules of the league itself. Even the boring bits can become great prompts for fic if you believe in yourself!

If you're writing Hockey RPF, this guide makes sure to point out where the NHL and the fictional book series/show differs, so it still works as a simplified guide for that too!