It’s that time again!
Ever since the news broke this past Monday out in Pebble Beach regarding the increase in the Salary Cap of near an estimated 12% from $64M to somewhere in the range of $71M or $72M the rumor mill has been a buzz. This number is an estimate put forth by the league and essentially helps guide the GMs and organizations over the next few months as teams gear up for the Trade Deadline and then the draft and UFA day 2014.
This rise has been expected and many I talk to say it’s a very conservative estimate.
“The NHL has always been conservative with these numbers. Projections are all about promising less and delivering more. They don’t want to be questioned by a number that comes out later and asked, ‘What went wrong?’…
Another source added, “The NHL wants this number to be perceived in the right way as well. They are very aware of the ‘If the Cap is already back over 70 what was the lockout for?’ nay-sayers.…
The answer of course is the NHL is not opposed to paying out $70M as long as the split and revenue sharing assures the lesser teams can pay the salary floor without being put out of business.
So does this assure us a fun Trade Deadline 2014?…
For sure. The Salary Cap heading in a positive direction should mean the first meaningful trade deadline since before the lockout in 2011...maybe even further back.
Last year’s deadline was killed for two reasons: First, teams were hesitant to add money because GMs knew the Cap would be actually going down for some teams from 70M to 64M . Secondly, in the shortened season there became far less teams willing to risk the future due to the fact that so many teams felt this wasn’t their year.
Two deadlines ago the lockout was hanging over the deadline and many contracts were set to expire near the CBA and teams couldn’t plan for the future in any way, shape, or form. Some I talk to feel that fear stretched even to the deadline’s going into that one.
Now the climate has changed dramatically. And with 8 years of stability ahead, a new TV contract putting billions into the system, more outdoor games generating millions, and the smaller market teams added stability we should be in for a whopper of a deadline.
As I have begun laying out the Rumor Chart for the deadline I have been talking to even more people than usual and some teams are in fantastic shape. (more on that in my next blog)
Certain teams have to be looking at 71 or 72 as a boom. Player contracts, many of which have battled up hill in the last few years because of all the instability, should rise substantially.
In general, if you are a person who loves you some hockey rumors the new Cap will certainly make your life a whole lot better.
More to come.
Listen to the latest HockeyBuzzcast with Mike Augello and Bill Meltzer: