One thing that Milner fails to do, along with most of the media who choose to analyze the business side of things, is to ask whether or not the cost of doing business has gone up for some of these teams. Yes, as a whole the league is spending less and teams do have cost certainty. Cost certainty should not be confused with Cheaper Costs across the board.
As many of the business section posters know, there are a couple of groups of teams left after we take out the biggest markets (big in terms of revenues generated). The lowest of the lower group will get revenue sharing that makes up somewhat for the higher cost of doing business now due to the salary cap floor. The second group (e.g., Islanders, Ducks) aren't as lucky. I know ticket prices should be set at what the market will bear, but for some of these teams, they don't seem to have too many options if they see their payrolls increase by 30-50% or more.
The revenue sharing recipients certainly are better off relative to the non-recipients, but almost all of this group nevertheless is operating with a higher payroll now than pre-lockout. The escrow distribution potentially can take the edge of this somewhat... IF there is a surplus in the owners' favor and the revenue sharing plan is adequately stocked.