Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat isn't worried about his teammates' lack of playoff experience as they head into their qualifying-round series versus the Minnesota Wild.

"I think they will be up for it," Horvat told NHL.com's David Satriano. "They know what it takes to win, and they know what playoff hockey is like. I think they are going to be ready for it. They have the game to suit the playoffs."

Horvat, who's only 24, is considered a veteran among Vancouver's impressive young nucleus of Elias Pettersson (21), Quinn Hughes (20), and Brock Boeser (22).

Starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom has also never suited up in the playoffs, though Horvat is confident they won't have any issues adjusting in their postseason debuts.

"I don't think there's much to be said, I think they just know what needs to be done and our main goal at the end of it," Horvat said.

He added: "Our main goal is to win playoff games and ultimately win the Stanley Cup. The organization deserves it, my teammates deserve it, and obviously the city of Vancouver deserves it so that's what we're going to try and do here."

The seventh-seeded Canucks will take on the 10th-seeded Wild in a best-of-five play-in series, with the winner advancing to the traditional 16-team bracket. Vancouver will be one of 12 teams stationed in Edmonton's hub, with play-in games expected to begin July 31.

The players' association and NHL board of governors are currently voting to ratify the tentative collective bargaining agreement and all return-to-play protocols, with results expected to be announced Friday.

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Key dates for the Stanley Cup Playoffs and ensuing offseason within the NHL and NHLPA's Memorandum of Understanding have been revealed, TSN's Frank Seravalli reports.

All dates are subject to change due to the ongoing pandemic, Seravalli adds, but are currently as follows:

• July 31: Beginning of qualification round
• Aug. 9: Start of Stanley Cup Playoffs
• Oct. 2: Last possible day of Stanley Cup Final
• Oct. 6: 2020 draft (must follow end of playoffs and precede free agency)
• Oct. 9 (or seven days after conclusion of final): Start of free agency
• Nov. 17: Opening of training camps for 2020-21 season
• Dec. 1: Beginning of 2020-21 regular season

Interestingly, the free-agent interview period has been abandoned under the new CBA, according to Seravalli. Instead of having a few days to set up face-to-face meetings with players before signings can actually occur, clubs can only call players as of 12:00 p.m. ET the day free agency opens.

The NHL and players' association tentatively agreed Monday to a four-year CBA extension that included all necessary return-to-play protocols. Each union member will vote on it, with a simple majority needed to pass the deal.

The league's board of governors will also vote, requiring a two-thirds affirmative result to officially ratify the agreement.

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The New Jersey Devils are set to hire Lindy Ruff as their head coach, according to NHL Network's Kevin Weekes.

New Jersey is also expected to remove the interim tag from general manager Tom Fitzgerald's role, Weekes adds.

Ruff has worked as an assistant for the New York Rangers since 2017. He takes over for Alain Nasreddine, who was named interim head coach when John Hynes was fired in December.

The veteran head coach has manned the bench for nearly 1,500 games with the Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars. The 60-year-old is sixth on the all-time wins list with 736.

It was reported in June that the Devils narrowed down their coaching search to four candidates, with Gerard Gallant, Peter Laviolette, and John Stevens known to have interviewed for the vacancy.

The Devils entered the 2019-20 campaign with sky-high expectations after landing Jack Hughes with the No. 1 overall pick and acquiring P.K. Subban in a blockbuster trade. However, New Jersey was unable to capitalize and finished the season in 26th place.

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Chris Pronger is leaving his job as senior vice president of hockey operations with the Florida Panthers in order to work for a luxury travel company he co-founded with his wife, Lauren, the team announced Wednesday.

"Since joining our hockey operations staff in 2017, Chris approached his role with great passion and provided our team with a fresh and unique perspective," general manager Dale Tallon said in a statement. "A true professional, champion, and proud family man, we wish Chris, Lauren, and the Pronger family the very best in their new business endeavor, Well Inspired Travels."

Pronger joined the Panthers as a senior adviser before adding senior vice president of hockey operations to his title in 2019. In April, he said he was interested in potentially becoming a GM someday.

"I was able to grow as an executive and more importantly as a person in my three years with the hockey club," Pronger said Wednesday. "I wish the Panthers organization nothing but the best in the upcoming playoffs and years to come."

Pronger recorded 698 points in 1,167 games during his Hall of Fame playing career. The former Hart and Norris Trophy winner led three different teams to the Stanley Cup Final, winning in 2007 with the Anaheim Ducks. Concussions ended his career in 2011-12.

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