The issue is front loaded contracts and the ability to circumvent the cap in later years. I have sero doubt Zetterberg is legitimately injured. And he deserves to be paid for what he has earned under his contract and under the CBA. That is black and white IMO.
But the other fact is that Zetterberg will have been paid about $68 million under his current contract through last year. And only about $54 million has counted against the cap. So over 9 years the Red Wings created about $1.5 million in annual cap space out of thin air.
Now if Zetterberg were being paid in equal annual amounts we might still end up at a similar place, but it would be LTIR vs. retirement. And maybe people wouldn't be so quick to point fingers knowing the Red Wings were still paying him $6 million per year.
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