It's not just the over the cap shenanigans, it's the low tax states that enable certain markets like Tampa or Las Vegas to sign top players at either discount rates or for top dollar that big markets like Toronto or Montreal simply can't compete against. You think Brayden Point could be signed for a 6.75M cap hit in any Canadian market? The guy was an above PPG player when he signed that contract, let that sink in. Pietrangelo 8.8M cap hit contract in no income tax Nevada would translate roughly as a 10.7M cap hit in Quebec, you tell me if the Habs have the same advantages to compete in a hard salary cap era where every team is fixed at the same ceiling.
This game is rigged and it's no surprise that Canadian markets struggle so much to become Cup contenders and stay in that position. And it makes me sick that big, high taxed income markets that move the needle in terms of revenue in this league get abused by Bettman and his agenda of growing the sport in places that have no business in getting a hockey team. You wanna know how many Tampa Bay fans there are? It's basically the season ticket holders and the few people cheering outside the arena, if there were so many more of them watching the games at home, the TV rights in the US would not be as pathetic as they are right now.
- AK27

^^This!! ^^ (Who seriously thinks more than 3/4 teams have an honest chance to win the cup in the next 3-5 years?)

Calgary was the first. Montreal won't be the last.

The rules apply to every team. There are no state taxes in Florida, sure. You also have to live in Florida. That's the trade off. It's sport, win or lose act like a grown ass man, shake hands and move on. Complaining about something out of your control and fully within the rules is for losers and whiners. Tampa is winning because they're playing better, finishing their chances and getting high end goaltending. Everything else is just an excuse and I've got no time for those
- Takemedrunkimhome

You know that at some point there was no cap and teams could spend as much as they wanted. Why is there a cap now? Because the system didn't work for everyone so they changed it and brought in the cap.
It was hard enough to get all parties to agree to it and has led to many issues and renegs .
The reason for my rambling is simply to point out that the system isn't perfect and needs to adapt.
Complaining about what we see as wrong is not to complain about what HAS gone on but to prevent it from happening again.
Congrats on any GM for working loopholes but at some points loopholes need to be closed. What we have is a good start but some tweaking will always be required.

AGAIN I'm not complaining about what anyone has done up to this point, but hopefully changes are possible if there is enough talk about it, just like the officiating it was bad for everyone but that doesn't mean we can't complain about it.

I'm going to shut up now

Some stats of interest

Habs' record with Jon Merrill in the line-up: 6-7

Habs' record without Jon Merrill: 6-1

Number of points for Jon Merrill: 0 in 167 min

You know that at some point there was no cap and teams could spend as much as they wanted. Why is there a cap now? Because the system didn't work for everyone so they changed it and brought in the cap.
It was hard enough to get all parties to agree to it and has led to many issues and renegs .
The reason for my rambling is simply to point out that the system isn't perfect and needs to adapt.
Complaining about what we see as wrong is not to complain about what HAS gone on but to prevent it from happening again.
Congrats on any GM for working loopholes but at some points loopholes need to be closed. What we have is a good start but some tweaking will always be required.

AGAIN I'm not complaining about what anyone has done up to this point, but hopefully changes are possible if there is enough talk about it, just like the officiating it was bad for everyone but that doesn't mean we can't complain about it.

I'm going to shut up now
- braidan

Thank you for this. I agree it isn't perfect, it never will be, that's the reality of having 31/32 agendas. Should there be changes? Sure. Until those changes happen these are the rules. That's all there is...anything else is opinion and conjecture and frankly meaningless.

If that one guy doesn't want to watch and take his ball and go home I can promise the league gives zero (frank)s. Gary has grown their league, their revenue and the value of the average franchise and the owners aren't getting rid of him, they LOVE him.

Tampa is one win from the Cup...Complaining about how they did it...fully within the rules is something weak people do. Until it's addressed thess are the rules...and the Habs did the same just to a much lesser degree

Some stats of interest

Habs' record with Jon Merrill in the line-up: 6-7

Habs' record without Jon Merrill: 6-1

Number of points for Jon Merrill: 0 in 167 min
- habs88888

you have returned!

^^This!! ^^ (Who seriously thinks more than 3/4 teams have an honest chance to win the cup in the next 3-5 years?)

Calgary was the first. Montreal won't be the last.



- itwasin

Yeah, everyone knew St. Louis was winning it all in 2019. Especially around January.

you have returned!
- mr.peanut

I have returned to troll you, and I credit where the Habs are this far to my disappearance, now they will prolly not win 4 straight but they must

Some stats of interest

Habs' record with Jon Merrill in the line-up: 6-7

Habs' record without Jon Merrill: 6-1

Number of points for Jon Merrill: 0 in 167 min
- habs88888

*holds so tight*

I have returned to troll you, and I credit where the Habs are this far to my disappearance
- habs88888

i have missed the physical, emotional and psychological abuse you give me on the reg

i have missed the physical, emotional and psychological abuse you give me on the reg
- mr.peanut

That’s news to me

*holds so tight*
- kicksave856

That’s news to me
- habs88888

hihihi

Did Tampa break any rules? If not I'm tired of hearing this. Life isn't always fair, get over it and get a helmet. Complaining about it is just so weak and I'm tired of it. Tampa is good. They played within the rules. Everything else is just whiny female dog stuff
- Takemedrunkimhome

Agree, enough of the BS, they broke no rules.

Also, enough of this Habs are not deserving, they beat 3 quality Teams.

And that's that.

hihihi
- mr.peanut

byebyebye

byebyebye
- habs88888

no no

no no
- mr.peanut

you nEEd to stop chasing our friends away!!

Surprised Vegas is a cop out way of saying BEAT Vegas. You know Vegas, that team that BEAT Colorado. You (frank)ing trolls are too dumb to even put up quality trolling. Inbreds, mouth breathers and cowards who have been hiding the whole playoff run. It is just comical how pathetic you've all shown yourselves to be
- Takemedrunkimhome

byebyebye
- habs88888

Hello friend

Hello friend
- AGalchenyuk27

just ordered chinese. everybody come over.

just ordered chinese. everybody come over.
- kicksave856

I’m watching Canada play, so much squeaking.

just ordered chinese. everybody come over.
- kicksave856

Sweet and sour soup?

you nEEd to stop chasing our friends away!!
- kicksave856

it's okay. he left his wallet here

Sweet and sour soup?
- habs88888

i did get a pint of swEEt and sour pork. i'm a sucker for that sweetness.

Hello friend
- AGalchenyuk27

Hello, here comes 3 straight win for the Habs this coming week

it's okay. he left his wallet here
- mr.peanut

every credit card number is 8888 8888 8888 8888