[sureLoss]

ooh interesting quirk on Cowen's contract may lead to a cap team trading for him and then buying him out to gain cap space

http://www.tsn.ca/mondaymustread-rar...value-1.428314

That’s because Cowen’s contract will be a particularly valuable asset for a specific set of teams this offseason.

If Cowen is bought out of the final year of his deal in June, the net result will be a rare $650,000 salary-cap credit for next season, which could help a team cover potential overage penalties paid out from this season.

An overage penalty is applied to next season’s salary cap when a team paid performance bonuses in contracts but did not have room under this season’s cap.
Nine teams carried an overage into this season, ranging from $90,000 to $969,000. It means that a team like Chicago, for instance, started this year $750,000 in the hole on the $71.4 million cap because of an overage penalty.

According to GeneralFanager.com, there are 10 teams this season that are on track to start next year with an overage, and that’s if only 50 per cent of their performances bonuses are realized.

To use the Blackhawks as an example, rookie Artemi Panarin could well hit all of his $2.6 million performance bonuses, leaving the cap-strapped Blackhawks with a hefty carryover for next year. Teuvo Teravainen could also hit for $850,000.

Detroit, Pittsburgh, Washington, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Florida, Tampa Bay and the New York Rangers are teams with similar potential issues.

For those teams, acquiring Cowen and then buying him out would get them closer to starting next season on level ground. The difference would mean a roster spot on most clubs.

Cowen is the only player on the market who would serve a dual purpose for a firm playoff team. He could serve as an important insurance policy on the blueline for a postseason run.