I've seen the question asked here on this thread many times - If the Oilers can barely survive with a payroll just over $30 million, how does it benefit them to have to raise their payroll to meet a $34 million payroll minimum?
The answer is simple if you just use common sense.
First of all, the Oilers wouldn't have to give away their top players like they have been for the past decade. Other teams will be unable to over-value those players by offering them $8 million/yr contracts.
Secondly, the Oilers will be more competitive. Even though they might have to spend $2-3 million more on payroll, Dallas, Colorado, Detroit and St. Louis will be dumping salary left and right, meaning THEORETICALLY instead of finishing 8th or 9th every single year and either missing the playoffs or becoming a first round speedbump for a team with twice their payroll, the Oilers will have the same chance of winning the Cup as every other team in their conference. Assembling a great team will come down to drafting and trading instead of who can offer the best players the most money. The Oil would MORE than make up that $2-3 million in home playoff dates, broadcast rights, pay-per-views, merchandising, etc.
The statements made by Cal Nichols yesterday were very realistic. The Oilers cannot compete in a league where teams are allowed to spend $50 million on payroll. The Oilers can afford to increase their payroll to meet the minimum requirements if they are able to make noise in the playoffs. In a new system with cost certainty, if the Oilers continue to miss the playoffs and the team therefore doesn't make any money, it becomes a management issue and K-Lowe and others get canned for not doing a good enough job. That's the way it is supposed to work.