Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylvanfan
Top end players who produce like top end players getting high salaries is seldom an issue.
Teams end up dancing on the salary cap landmine when they have 4th line centers and number 7 defenceman accounting for 9 million or about 12.5% of their allotted cap space.
I've said it before, but Draisaitl and McDavid will be the least of the Oilers cap worries, it's Sekera, Poulliot, and Lucic who'll sink that boat.
Likewise with the Leafs their risk will be how much do they pay the guys who aren't Marner and Matthews.
The Blackhawks for the most part have somewhat proven that you keep the stars, trade the next tier players for good returns, and keep swapping out those parts. Question is, can anyone else successfully practice that? You don't get the good discount veteran free agents like Brad Richards, or Brian Campbell recently until you prove to the league that you can win.
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Canadian teams will have to rely on prospects more than a team like chicago or new york, cities where all players universally would like to play. More than a few players think it's their favourite NHL city right now. According to Olli Jokinen, some Flames players sure did during the playoffs one year...
Great post though, bang on. Lucic looks like a stick of cap dynamite in that deal. Full NMC for 7 years? The only thing that will save that team--and at this point I'm basically convinced it is Flames luck that it will-- is a lockout with a buyout window.