Problem being, it justifies to socialist taxes in Canada vs the capitalist taxes in the US.
Now, if you did this using US taxes (for playing in the US) vs Canadien taxes (for playing in Canada), then this might be feasible. But 53%? Come on. That's ridiculous.
- gstclairinc

It could always compensate for Canadian teams sending so much money to the less financially viable teams in the US?

Or is that also socialism we should cut off?

i've been on my way this entire time.
- kicksave856

Traffic is just ridiculous these days.

Traffic is just ridiculous these days.
- Good On Paper

Blame the socialists...am I doing this right?

Blame the socialists...am I doing this right?
- Takemedrunkimhome

Blame the socialists...am I doing this right?
- Takemedrunkimhome

It could always compensate for Canadian teams sending so much money to the less financially viable teams in the US?

Or is that also socialism we should cut off?
- Scabeh

drette din dents. I like it

It could always compensate for Canadian teams sending so much money to the less financially viable teams in the US?

Or is that also socialism we should cut off?
- Scabeh

You win the internet.

You win the internet.
- Atomic Wedgie

and he is now fined 5 billion

Great ideas. Hopefully the brain trust at the NHL board of governor's will see the benefit in growing the women's game. I have my doubts though.

I thought we defeated the Red Army in the 80’s. It was miraculous...

That said, players would wisely opt to see this Taxation Equalization for Conpetitive Balance be applied to the exponentially escalating escrow fees they’re forced to pay long before they’d approve the funds being used toward fiscally backing something that the market has had a chance to digest and by and large, doesn’t support to the point that the current model is financially viable.

burp! de la harpe!

I thought we defeated the Red Army in the 80’s. It was miraculous...

That said, players would wisely opt to see this Taxation Equalization for Conpetitive Balance be applied to the exponentially escalating escrow fees they’re forced to pay long before they’d approve the funds being used toward fiscally backing something that the market has had a chance to digest and by and large, doesn’t support to the point that the current model is financially viable.
- 13of39

The only problem is it becomes hard for teams or players to plan anything 2-3-4 years out, if a change in local / state or province / national government changes and introduces new taxation laws.

Conceptually, perhaps there is merit. But actually realizing this would be impossible.

Blame the socialists...am I doing this right?
- Takemedrunkimhome

At least they aren't blaming immigrants today.

Nice change.

players might be paying more taxes here in montreal, but its not that much more compared to other places in the states, plus they live in canada they get 25-30 % back converting it, to CND and spending here, i dont think taxes is the main reason players are not signing in montreal to be honest

Yup that’s it in a nutshell i know there would be many kinks to work out but i think it could be interesting
- Karine Hains

Anything else?

Should they buy them equipment, plane tickets, etc, too?

Holy.

Socialism is a cancer for Canadian hockey.

At least they aren't blaming immigrants today.

Nice change.
- Mashadar

Here's another thought. Let the NHLPA arrange taxes as a singular, mass unit, with both the American and Canadian governments. 1 lump sum, paid out accordingly to each government, to cover the overall tax bill. Players get paid accordingly by the PA to ensure no "funny business", like the NHL taking too much, etc. They can even go as far as making ONE SINGULAR SALARY across the NHLPA, and any other bonuses, etc be handled by the agents, with the agreement that any such bonuses are taxed at the standard gov't amount, which is significantly less than an employment salary.

This should see a bump in the average pay across the league, which in turn would lead to the fringe goons being taken out of the league, as your bottom teir players will make the same base salary as your superstars. They'll actually need to know how to play, because if you want those bonuses and endorsements, you'll have to legit earn them.

This could also help the free agent drought. Imagine the superstar being the same price as a 4th liner, in theory. Any bonuses come after. The hard cap still applies, so you won't have the money teams buying all the free agents, but if the player is truly wooed, or wants to "come home", it could make it easier to make cap friendly deals, instead of the current madness that pays fringe players WAY too much.

Just a thought, messy, and needs refinements, but I think it might be a start.

Here's another thought. Let the NHLPA arrange taxes as a singular, mass unit, with both the American and Canadian governments. 1 lump sum, paid out accordingly to each government, to cover the overall tax bill. Players get paid accordingly by the PA to ensure no "funny business", like the NHL taking too much, etc. They can even go as far as making ONE SINGULAR SALARY across the NHLPA, and any other bonuses, etc be handled by the agents, with the agreement that any such bonuses are taxed at the standard gov't amount, which is significantly less than an employment salary.

This should see a bump in the average pay across the league, which in turn would lead to the fringe goons being taken out of the league, as your bottom teir players will make the same base salary as your superstars. They'll actually need to know how to play, because if you want those bonuses and endorsements, you'll have to legit earn them.

This could also help the free agent drought. Imagine the superstar being the same price as a 4th liner, in theory. Any bonuses come after. The hard cap still applies, so you won't have the money teams buying all the free agents, but if the player is truly wooed, or wants to "come home", it could make it easier to make cap friendly deals, instead of the current madness that pays fringe players WAY too much.

Just a thought, messy, and needs refinements, but I think it might be a start.
- Darksyde

why not set the cap according to the taxes paid by each market.

players in Mtl pay 25% taxes (more or less depending on the salary, let's make an average for all 23 players), so the cap for the Habs is 83M + 25% = 103M
players in Tampa pay 5% taxes, so the cap for the Lightning is 83M +5% = 87M.
of course they could lower the basic cap to reflect that, so instead of 83M it would be 65M +/-. I'll let them do the math.
that ratio for each team could be reviewed every year according to new state rules, just like they set the cap every year.

but then, what do you do if a player is traded from Mtl to TB?
well players would not pay taxes, teams would. Habs pay 25M in taxes for their roster, TB pay 5M, NYR pay 20M... all teams share the cost equally at the end of the year. so Price making 10M in Mtl would still make 10M in TB (well now only 8M since it's net). the cost for the team would be different according to taxes.

Habs had the monopoly of French players back in the day and wouldn't let anyone have them. Now they're crying about fairness. Awe shucks

you can literally say this about any single profession. i have US colleagues earning similar incomes in low tax states. if i have to live with it, why shouldn't they?
- DoubleDown

Exactly this.

No one is being forced into anything, there is always a choice, earn a living another way if you feel cheated.

I live in southern Nevada but work over the border in California; since NV doesn't have a state income tax, California is nice enough to tax my income. I do this knowing and if don't like it I can get another job.

Anything else?

Should they buy them equipment, plane tickets, etc, too?

Holy.
- pete26

And btw, taxes blabla...I’m wrong but you do the math...

Socialism is a cancer for Canadian hockey.
- vladkonstantinov

On this international anti Russian bot day, does anyone else remember before NHL.com redesigned their site they had their own comment section instead of Facebook (it might have still been involved if I recall but not FB only like now) and there used to be dozens, hundreds and sometimes even thousands of comments during the playoffs.

I had a longer rant written but it won't let me post it. Point is, social media and Russia bad.

Here's a better idea: adjust the salary cap for each team according to revenue past taxes and express contract numbers after accounting for taxes. Why we, as a society, have to lie about prices and what not when we never calculate taxes allows governments to continue to tax stupidly and subsidize even more stupidly. Government spending is more irresponsible than a five year old steering a car.

Mathematical example:

The teams paying the lowest taxes would have the current cap (81.5M). But the teams paying a higher tax would have a higher cap.

So in order to calculate Toronto's number, you take the actual paid by the lowy teams like Nashville, Vegas, the Floridas, and Dallas (49.5031M ish) and take a reciprocal of the tax paid out (ends up being 2.14...) and so their cap number would be a whopping 106.11M.

Of course, in order to make the league profitable, they'd have to adjust the "actual paid" to something manageable for most the teams.

Otherwise:

Why are players going to take a pay cut to support a non-profitable venture? Are YOU going to pay 800K to women because they can't put fans in the seats out of your salary?

Women's hockey has to fix its product, not be subsidized.

kicksave, hi?

kicksave, hi?
- Good On Paper

good morning, friend!