Komisarek8 said:probarbly just give up a first round pick...not a playoff spot!..calm down...imagine that actually happend? which fans would go see their time NOT FIGHTING for anything
A single draft pick is a worthless punishment - especially if the team ends up with one of the better records.
If you want the cap to be honored - especially if the league were to allow the combined salary to float over the cap as long as the paid dollars end up lower - then the punishment has to be severe to ensure comlpiance. I would think forefitting a playoff spot would be extremely effective in preventing such behavior.
That said, the entire line of reasoning is based on an cap rule that I do not believe the NHL will adopt.