The Carolina Hurricanes parted ways with defenseman Joel Edmundson after one season, trading his free-agent rights to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday for a fifth-round pick.

The NHL on Friday moved its draft up to Oct. 6-7 and set an Oct. 9 start for free agency.

The first round of the draft will be Oct. 6, with the New York Rangers on the clock and Alexis Lafreniere the consensus top option for the No. 1 pick. The remaining rounds will take place Oct. 7, and all the drafting will be done virtually.

Free agency begins at noon Eastern two days later. And after the league and NHL Players' Association agreed to a collective bargaining agreement extension, there won't be an interview period in the days leading to the start of the free-agent frenzy.