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Good analysis from Spector (Lyle Richardson, not the idiot from Edmonton)
For the seventh consecutive year, the NHL salary cap limits are expected to increase.
Thanks to a projected $3.2 billion in revenue for the 2011-12 regular season and playoffs (the most for a single season in NHL history), the salary cap “ceiling” for 2012-13 could rise to $69 million, as well as raising the salary cap “floor” to over $53 million.
It could go even higher, for if the NHLPA employs its five percent salary escalator clause, the ceiling could go as high as $72 million, and the floor to $56 million.
In other words, the projected cap minimum for next season could be as high as the salary cap ceiling of 2009-10.
While the salary cap’s constant escalation leaves NHL fans wondering what the 2004-05 lockout was about, it’s good news for the nine teams (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Toronto, San Jose, Vancouver and Los Angeles) with payrolls currently in excess of $54 million for next season, giving them considerably more available cap space to worth with.
It’s also good news for traditionally free-spending clubs like the Detroit Red Wings, and New York Rangers, as well as the Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames and Washington Capitals, who’ve been big spenders for some time under the salary cap.
That projected increase, however, could be short-lived.
In the upcoming CBA negotiations, it’s believed the league will seek to reduce the players’ share of revenue, from its current 57% to a 50-50 split with the team owners, as well as lowering the cap floor by widening the spread between it and the cap ceiling from its current $16 million to over $20 million.
That would require the players accepting a rollback on existing salaries, which would also have an effect upon unsigned players, forcing them to accept comparable salaries based on the rolled-back rate.
The end result could be a cap ceiling dropping back for next season to within the same level ($61-$63 million) as this year’s rate of $64.3 million, with a cap floor declining perhaps to $44 million.
League commissioner Gary Bettman said he’s told the team owners to conduct their business as usual for this summer under the terms of the current CBA, which expires on September 15th.
Given the uncertainty over what could be contained in the next CBA, one would expect the league owners, especially traditional free-spenders or those with committed payrolls north of $54 million would exercise some caution heading into this summer.
That, however, doesn’t appear to be the case.
CSNPhilly.com’s Tim Panaccio last week quoted an unnamed NHL Board of Governor member claiming all the big money teams intend to “max out” on the salary cap, because if it is adjusted downward next season, it will be done “across the board” without penalizing the top spenders.
In other words, it’s okay to spend up to the projected cap ceiling during the summer, because if the cap drops, so too will the value of existing player contracts, ensuring the free-spenders remain cap compliant without having to shed salaries to do so.
That’s a bold assumption, which would indicate the team owners expect the NHLPA membership to once again give back a portion of their salaries – and share of revenue – if they wish to continue playing NHL hockey next season.
Even if there isn’t a reduction in the cap ceiling in the next CBA, it still won’t hurt those deep-pocketed, free-spending teams. They can afford to keep pace with the rising cap, regardless of its number.
It’ll be a different story for those teams struggling to keep pace with the rising cap floor, especially if it isn’t reduced.
They’ll lose out in bidding competitively for the best available free agent talent, risk losing their own best UFAs to the free market, and could be forced to trade those they cannot afford to re-sign, or those too expensive to retain.
In other words, it’ll be the same situation they faced prior to the great lockout of 2004-05.
As usual, it’s win-win for those teams with the deep pockets and the willingness to spend, while those which can’t afford to do so hope for some form of relief in the next CBA.
That could result in the league once again attempting to squeeze the players, rather than working with them to come up with an improved revenue sharing plan to assist the struggling franchises.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
For the seventh consecutive year, the NHL salary cap limits are expected to increase.
Thanks to a projected $3.2 billion in revenue for the 2011-12 regular season and playoffs (the most for a single season in NHL history), the salary cap “ceiling” for 2012-13 could rise to $69 million, as well as raising the salary cap “floor” to over $53 million.
It could go even higher, for if the NHLPA employs its five percent salary escalator clause, the ceiling could go as high as $72 million, and the floor to $56 million.
In other words, the projected cap minimum for next season could be as high as the salary cap ceiling of 2009-10.
While the salary cap’s constant escalation leaves NHL fans wondering what the 2004-05 lockout was about, it’s good news for the nine teams (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Toronto, San Jose, Vancouver and Los Angeles) with payrolls currently in excess of $54 million for next season, giving them considerably more available cap space to worth with.
It’s also good news for traditionally free-spending clubs like the Detroit Red Wings, and New York Rangers, as well as the Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames and Washington Capitals, who’ve been big spenders for some time under the salary cap.
That projected increase, however, could be short-lived.
In the upcoming CBA negotiations, it’s believed the league will seek to reduce the players’ share of revenue, from its current 57% to a 50-50 split with the team owners, as well as lowering the cap floor by widening the spread between it and the cap ceiling from its current $16 million to over $20 million.
That would require the players accepting a rollback on existing salaries, which would also have an effect upon unsigned players, forcing them to accept comparable salaries based on the rolled-back rate.
The end result could be a cap ceiling dropping back for next season to within the same level ($61-$63 million) as this year’s rate of $64.3 million, with a cap floor declining perhaps to $44 million.
League commissioner Gary Bettman said he’s told the team owners to conduct their business as usual for this summer under the terms of the current CBA, which expires on September 15th.
Given the uncertainty over what could be contained in the next CBA, one would expect the league owners, especially traditional free-spenders or those with committed payrolls north of $54 million would exercise some caution heading into this summer.
That, however, doesn’t appear to be the case.
CSNPhilly.com’s Tim Panaccio last week quoted an unnamed NHL Board of Governor member claiming all the big money teams intend to “max out” on the salary cap, because if it is adjusted downward next season, it will be done “across the board” without penalizing the top spenders.
In other words, it’s okay to spend up to the projected cap ceiling during the summer, because if the cap drops, so too will the value of existing player contracts, ensuring the free-spenders remain cap compliant without having to shed salaries to do so.
That’s a bold assumption, which would indicate the team owners expect the NHLPA membership to once again give back a portion of their salaries – and share of revenue – if they wish to continue playing NHL hockey next season.
Even if there isn’t a reduction in the cap ceiling in the next CBA, it still won’t hurt those deep-pocketed, free-spending teams. They can afford to keep pace with the rising cap, regardless of its number.
It’ll be a different story for those teams struggling to keep pace with the rising cap floor, especially if it isn’t reduced.
They’ll lose out in bidding competitively for the best available free agent talent, risk losing their own best UFAs to the free market, and could be forced to trade those they cannot afford to re-sign, or those too expensive to retain.
In other words, it’ll be the same situation they faced prior to the great lockout of 2004-05.
As usual, it’s win-win for those teams with the deep pockets and the willingness to spend, while those which can’t afford to do so hope for some form of relief in the next CBA.
That could result in the league once again attempting to squeeze the players, rather than working with them to come up with an improved revenue sharing plan to assist the struggling franchises.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
:sad:
