VANCOUVER — Let there be a salary cap.



The NHL’s 31 GMs are eagerly awaiting Saturday’s word, finally, of where next season’s salary cap upper limit will be. Commissioner Gary Bettman told them in the GMs meeting Thursday what he then told the assembled media: The league is awaiting sign-off from the NHL Players’ Association, and an announcement is expected for Saturday on Day 2 of the draft.



Normally we get word by Thursday or Friday of the draft.



It has affected some transactions, to some degree. For example, I was told that Bruins GM Don Sweeney told J.P. Barry, the agent for pending UFA winger Marcus Johansson, that he wanted to see the official cap number before coming to them with an offer.



A source Thursday said the cap will be one of two numbers: $81.5 million or $82 million. Nothing in between; it’s the first figure or the second one.



Either one is below the $83 million many cap-challenged teams...