What can possibly compensate for a revenue spread of $76 million dollars? Suppose we are talking 10 teams $50-65 million, 10 teams $65-80 million, 9 teams 80-100 million and the Leafs at $120 million. If the teams aren't willing to share revenues in any meaningful way, you can't solve this problem with a salary cap that is remotely fair to the players. You have to set the cap to the bottom half of the revenue generators while the players generate enormous profits for the rich teams.
I think this was a great feature of the old CBA, so far kept intact in this one. As long as players can't move until they are 31, the financial advantage is minimised almost completely.
All rich teams seem to be able to do with their wallet is put off an overdue rebuilding for a while. That is a very small advantage - if it is an advantage at all - when the revenue deck is stacked like the NHL revenue deck is stacked.
Tom