Speculation: 90% of the league's cap dollars already spent and teams trying to shed salary

[hockeykicker]

This isn't good

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[Puckclektr]

Which is probably why hall went to Buffalo And why Petro could be Going to NJ or another team with space.

 

[57special]

I wonder if some good players simply won't be offered contracts.

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Teams with cap space can get solid depth players a few weeks from now for almost nothing.

 

[smitty10]

Teams with cap space can get solid depth players a few weeks from now for almost nothing.

They already have been. The Devils just got a 20-20 player for free. Tyler Johnson just passed through waivers. It's insane.

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

I wonder if some good players simply won't be offered contracts.

Considering how few teams have cap space to spend and all owners lost money this season via lost gate receipts, this seems likely.

 

[WingsMJN2965]

Teams with cap space can get solid depth players a few weeks from now for almost nothing.

Umm, Detroit already is.

Unfortunately for us, depth players are going to be played in core spots.

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Umm, Detroit already is.

Sure but it will be more absurd later once the cap space is really gone.

 

[57special]

Ya, but some teams have internal caps. I think the financial ramifications of fanless buildings and shortened seasons are being overlooked by many fans. Hockey TV money won't cover team expenses. Teams spending up to the cap will be losing money. Depending on widespread vaccinations to be implemented by Jan is unwise, but even if it is, it will still be a shortened season. That loses money.

 

[Beville]

I wonder if some good players simply won't be offered contracts.

It’ll happen...

Or, 1 year deal for peanuts.

 

[WingsMJN2965]

Sure but it will be more absurd later once the cap space is really gone.

I'm all for it. Milk it a little longer and then gouge somebody of a cap dump for a 1st+.

We're not even through this yet. Next year is probably gonna have little to no gate revenue.

 

[Flukeshot]

Teams with cap space can get solid depth players a few weeks from now for almost nothing.

Absolutely will be the case. Players are going to have to decide if they want to stay in the NHL for 700k or try and net more elsewhere. I would suspect many will believe it's more valuable to stay in the NHL under any circumstances so they are more likely to get paid next year.

 

[GoldiFox]

I wonder if some good players simply won't be offered contracts.

The better ones will sign in Tampa for league minimum contracts.

This year's deals will be all about boosting future value.

 

[BruinsBtn]

When does panic set in?

 

[JoemAvs]

Ya, but some teams have internal caps. I think the financial ramifications of fanless buildings and shortened seasons are being overlooked by many fans. Hockey TV money won't cover team expenses. Teams spending up to the cap will be losing money. Depending on widespread vaccinations to be implemented by Jan is unwise, but even if it is, it will still be a shortened season. That loses money.

Thats why teams like Tampa and the Isles are in so much trouble right now...
We are talking about massive losses and nobody has any idea when fans will be allowed back into indoor stadiums in larger numbers....
90% of the available capspace is already spent. Thats actually more than I expected them to spend as a collective already considering that owners are bleeding money. How much more are teams allowed to spend by their owners? What about the tons of quality UFAs still out there?
Who is going to take on the type of contracts teams like Tampa and NYI really want to shed in an environment like this?

 

[CupInSIX]

Sounds like a mass exodus to Europe. Maybe some come back on PTOs.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Keep in mind there's still 100+ million of RFA contracts still to be negotiated. The average team will probably end up with a 78-79 million cap hit this season. Barely down from last year.

 

[Lolonegoal]

Oh these poor, poor millionaires :'(

 

[DropTheGloves]

The NHLPA should’ve pushed for compliance buyouts in Return to Play negotiations. They had to have known what the financial ramifications of COVID would be and its effects on salaries/contracts.

I bet we start to see GMs go for “unofficial” buyouts now, where they waive guys to the AHL then suspend and terminate them when they don’t report. Watch the PA then file grievances to try and recoup the money owed to a bunch of pissed off members. It could get messy fast.

 

[CupInSIX]

Oh these poor, poor millionaires :'(

Have a heart. You know how hard it is to get good trade in value for a Bugatti right now?

 

[Nickmo82]

Should've given teams compliance buyouts.

 

[57special]

Well, you can mock those losing money, then cry when they are put up for sale and moved from your city, or sold to a consortium that will do the same.

 

[ICanMotteBelieveIt]

Should've given teams compliance buyouts.

True. Weird that this hasn't been up for debate... if there ever was a need for it in the history of this sport we all know and love, it'd been now.

 

[Mick Jagr]

"Teams found to have violated the cap face fines of up to US$5 million, cancellation of contracts, loss of draft picks, loss of points and/or forfeiture of game(s) determined to have been affected by the violation of the cap."

Man, Tampa is not dealing from a position of power, huh?

 

[ElLeetch]

The hard cap needs to go.