SalarySwishSalarySwish
Forums/Armchair-GM

Bettmen removes the cap

Created by: arman2002k
Team: 2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs
Initial Creation Date: Jul. 30, 2023
Published: Jul. 30, 2023
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Free Agent Signings
UFAYEARSCAP HIT
8$16,000,000
7$12,000,000
4$9,000,000
5$9,000,000
6$6,000,000
5$9,500,000
2$7,000,000
4$7,500,000
4$8,500,000
4$10,000,000
5$10,000,000
5$8,000,000
4$8,000,000
4$8,000,000
DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
2024
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the NYI
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the CHI
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the OTT
2025
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the CHI
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
2026
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
20$83,500,000$161,594,667$0$0-$78,094,667
Left WingCentreRight Wing
$9,000,000$9,000,000
LW, C
UFA
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$16,000,000$16,000,000
C
UFA - 4
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$10,903,000$10,903,000
RW
NMC
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$7,500,000$7,500,000
LW, RW
UFA
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$11,000,000$11,000,000
C, LW
NMC
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$12,000,000$12,000,000
RW
UFA - 8
$8,000,000$8,000,000
RW, LW
UFA
$8,000,000$8,000,000
C, LW
UFA
$8,500,000$8,500,000
RW
UFA - 7
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$925,000$925,000
LW, RW
RFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$6,000,000$6,000,000
C, RW
UFA
$7,000,000$7,000,000
RW, C
UFA
Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$7,500,000$7,500,000
LD
NMC
UFA - 6
$10,000,000$10,000,000
RD
UFA
$10,000,000$10,000,000
G
UFA - 7
$9,500,000$9,500,000
LD
UFA - 7
$9,000,000$9,000,000
RD
UFA
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$766,667$766,667
G
RFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$2,000,000$2,000,000
LD/RD
M-NTC
UFA - 1
$8,000,000$8,000,000
RD
UFA
ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$2,100,000$2,100,000
RW, C, LW
M-NTC
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$1,100,000$1,100,000
RD
RFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$1,350,000$1,350,000
RW
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$800,000$800,000
C, LW
RFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$2,400,000$2,400,000
C
M-NTC
UFA - 3

Embed Code

  • To display this team on another website or blog, add this iFrame to the appropriate page
  • Customize the height attribute in the iFrame code below to fit your website appropriately. Minimum recommended: 400px.

Text-Embed

Click to Highlight
Jul. 30, 2023 at 6:14 a.m.
#1
Marner rocks
Avatar of the user
Joined: Jun. 2021
Posts: 4,409
Likes: 949
So you want to make it like MLB, where the yankees, dodgers and teams with the biggest fanbase get to buy the best players.
Jul. 30, 2023 at 7:26 a.m.
#2
Avatar of the user
Joined: Aug. 2021
Posts: 4,886
Likes: 2,478
In this case, Toronto may become the Yankees of this year.
Jul. 30, 2023 at 8:59 a.m.
#3
Avatar of the user
Joined: Mar. 2017
Posts: 4,839
Likes: 2,021
Quoting: jaok3
So you want to make it like MLB, where the yankees, dodgers and teams with the biggest fanbase get to buy the best players.


Quoting: NJDevils1317
In this case, Toronto may become the Yankees of this year.


We all know the luxury tax system in MLB is just as flawed as the hard cap in the NHL.

But when the Dodgers and Yankees (I will throw on Boston as well) far and away are the cash cows of MLB, paying the tax for insane rosters is something they will do. Winning makes more money.......

I am not saying that system is right either.

The real answer is my opinion is moving to the NFL's unguarenteed contract. Here is why:

A player and a team agree upon a contract with certain expectations of performance. Let's use Seattle's Chris Dreidger as an example.

The Kraken sign him with the expectation he would put up similar numbers as he did with the Panthers. He has did not, and last year was buried. Why should the Kraken be paying him $3.5 million when they are not getting the performance they signed on for? At this point, terminate the contract, and move on.

Now, this has to work both ways, where the player also has the right to terminate (which is the hill the NHLPA would stand on). If a player signs a deal seeing they are capable of a certain level of production and a role on a team, it would be contractually fair that the organization uphold that deal. (Noting in terms.of role, this usually leads to a trade or trade request). But in terms.of production..... the player just may have the right to renegotiate the contract to that they are paid market value. If the team.says no, the player can walk away from the deal. Again.... this is something the NHLPA would want, but getting to what constistutes "underpaid" is difficult.

The whole idea of guaranteed contracts is crazy imo. Both sides have obligations under the contract. In the NHL system, the only obligation is the player gets paid. This would end cap recaptured.... free up money in the systems. Move to ensure the best product is on the ice. In the real world, you underperform at a job, you are let go. Or you leave for a better opportunity. Not in the NHL.
Jul. 30, 2023 at 9:03 a.m.
#4
Avatar of the user
Joined: Jan. 2023
Posts: 4,354
Likes: 1,411
Quoting: jaok3
So you want to make it like MLB, where the yankees, dodgers and teams with the biggest fanbase get to buy the best players.


There are two league models:
1/ NFL - total league parity; hard cap, revenue sharing, etc. works because of overwhelming popularity of football; fans will watch even if not their favourite team
2/ MLB, NBA, EPL - different versions, but essentially a soft cap (luxury tax or FFP). Structure benefits marquee teams (most popular, generate more revenue); all teams have a shot but more popular teams can spend more (which is how it should be). These leagues are all thriving even though half the teams have no chance of winning at start of season. Half the teams in nhl have no chance of winning but cap is flat because revenue is flat.

I think the nhl made a mistake following NFL model - parity is overrated. no one cares about the hurricanes, panthers, etc outside small local markets; hence the dreadful tv ratings for Stanley cup finals. Fans want to see marquee teams: Leafs / Bruins / Habs vs Avs / Hawks / Oilers finals. Time to take the handcuffs off Bettman.
Jul. 30, 2023 at 10:31 a.m.
#5
Nah.
Avatar of the user
Joined: Sep. 2020
Posts: 4,668
Likes: 4,692
Quoting: MitchJr
There are two league models:
1/ NFL - total league parity; hard cap, revenue sharing, etc. works because of overwhelming popularity of football; fans will watch even if not their favourite team
2/ MLB, NBA, EPL - different versions, but essentially a soft cap (luxury tax or FFP). Structure benefits marquee teams (most popular, generate more revenue); all teams have a shot but more popular teams can spend more (which is how it should be). These leagues are all thriving even though half the teams have no chance of winning at start of season. Half the teams in nhl have no chance of winning but cap is flat because revenue is flat.

I think the nhl made a mistake following NFL model - parity is overrated. no one cares about the hurricanes, panthers, etc outside small local markets; hence the dreadful tv ratings for Stanley cup finals. Fans want to see marquee teams: Leafs / Bruins / Habs vs Avs / Hawks / Oilers finals. Time to take the handcuffs off Bettman.


Tell me you’re a Maple Leafs fan without telling me you’re a Maple Leafs fan.

Quoting: swinny
We all know the luxury tax system in MLB is just as flawed as the hard cap in the NHL.

But when the Dodgers and Yankees (I will throw on Boston as well) far and away are the cash cows of MLB, paying the tax for insane rosters is something they will do. Winning makes more money.......

I am not saying that system is right either.

The real answer is my opinion is moving to the NFL's unguarenteed contract. Here is why:

A player and a team agree upon a contract with certain expectations of performance. Let's use Seattle's Chris Dreidger as an example.

The Kraken sign him with the expectation he would put up similar numbers as he did with the Panthers. He has did not, and last year was buried. Why should the Kraken be paying him $3.5 million when they are not getting the performance they signed on for? At this point, terminate the contract, and move on.

Now, this has to work both ways, where the player also has the right to terminate (which is the hill the NHLPA would stand on). If a player signs a deal seeing they are capable of a certain level of production and a role on a team, it would be contractually fair that the organization uphold that deal. (Noting in terms.of role, this usually leads to a trade or trade request). But in terms.of production..... the player just may have the right to renegotiate the contract to that they are paid market value. If the team.says no, the player can walk away from the deal. Again.... this is something the NHLPA would want, but getting to what constistutes "underpaid" is difficult.

The whole idea of guaranteed contracts is crazy imo. Both sides have obligations under the contract. In the NHL system, the only obligation is the player gets paid. This would end cap recaptured.... free up money in the systems. Move to ensure the best product is on the ice. In the real world, you underperform at a job, you are let go. Or you leave for a better opportunity. Not in the NHL.


- I understand the desire for that, but you’re never getting the NHLPA to agree to non-guaranteed contracts. Even in the NFL, there is a reason why guarantees in contracts are rising and becoming more common. Not to mention, in the NFL, shelf-life is much shorter, and serious injuries are more common.

- The main issue with the NHL salary cap isn’t that it’s a hard cap, it’s that the NHL has long been criticized for its growth, or lack there-of, even during pre-COVID. The NHL may want to cry poor when compared as part of the Big 4, but it’s by no means doing poorly.. And that’s before we get into the escrow issue.
Jul. 30, 2023 at 10:33 a.m.
#6
Avatar of the user
Joined: Jan. 2023
Posts: 4,354
Likes: 1,411
Quoting: dopplsan
Tell me you’re a Maple Leafs fan without telling me you’re a Maple Leafs fan.



- I understand the desire for that, but you’re never getting the NHLPA to agree to non-guaranteed contracts. Even in the NFL, there is a reason why guarantees in contracts are rising and becoming more common. Not to mention, in the NFL, shelf-life is much shorter, and serious injuries are more common.

- The main issue with the NHL salary cap isn’t that it’s a hard cap, it’s that the NHL has long been criticized for its growth, or lack there-of, even during pre-COVID. The NHL may want to cry poor when compared as part of the Big 4, but it’s by no means doing poorly.. And that’s before we get into the escrow issue.


Tell me you’re a fan of a small market team without…
Jul. 30, 2023 at 10:41 a.m.
#7
Avatar of the user
Joined: Mar. 2022
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 569
Quoting: MitchJr
There are two league models:
1/ NFL - total league parity; hard cap, revenue sharing, etc. works because of overwhelming popularity of football; fans will watch even if not their favourite team
2/ MLB, NBA, EPL - different versions, but essentially a soft cap (luxury tax or FFP). Structure benefits marquee teams (most popular, generate more revenue); all teams have a shot but more popular teams can spend more (which is how it should be). These leagues are all thriving even though half the teams have no chance of winning at start of season. Half the teams in nhl have no chance of winning but cap is flat because revenue is flat.

I think the nhl made a mistake following NFL model - parity is overrated. no one cares about the hurricanes, panthers, etc outside small local markets; hence the dreadful tv ratings for Stanley cup finals. Fans want to see marquee teams: Leafs / Bruins / Habs vs Avs / Hawks / Oilers finals. Time to take the handcuffs off Bettman.


Just my opinion. This would only make the nhl more boring in my eyes. If the cap was removed, the vast majority of the star players would go to Boston/Toronto/Montreal/New York, etc. Sure it would gain some more casual fans from bigger markets, but it would equally lose fans from smaller markets. A big reason why smaller markets like Carolina, Florida, etc. have been able to build their fanbases had have success is because the salary cap allows them to better keep their players and add star players. And big market teams wouldn't need 5+ superstar players if the nhl actually knew how to market their teams. Only teams this would benefit would be big markets, screwing over like half the league and their fanbases in the process. Average leafs fan take.
dopplsan liked this.
Jul. 30, 2023 at 10:47 a.m.
#8
Avatar of the user
Joined: Jan. 2023
Posts: 4,354
Likes: 1,411
Quoting: fullblowncaniac90
Just my opinion. This would only make the nhl more boring in my eyes. If the cap was removed, the vast majority of the star players would go to Boston/Toronto/Montreal/New York, etc. Sure it would gain some more casual fans from bigger markets, but it would equally lose fans from smaller markets. A big reason why smaller markets like Carolina, Florida, etc. have been able to build their fanbases had have success is because the salary cap allows them to better keep their players and add star players. And big market teams wouldn't need 5+ superstar players if the nhl actually knew how to market their teams. Only teams this would benefit would be big markets, screwing over like half the league and their fanbases in the process. Average leafs fan take.


Majority of successful pro sports leagues around the world operate exactly in that way so doubtful it would be the disaster you proclaim 🙄. I’m in favour of helping small market teams (for exact reasons you outline) but there should be a limit. For any league to be successful & sustainable in the long run, the most popular teams need to drive it. The abysmal tv ratings from last year’s dreadful Stanley cup final should be all the proof you need
Jul. 30, 2023 at 10:57 a.m.
#9
Nah.
Avatar of the user
Joined: Sep. 2020
Posts: 4,668
Likes: 4,692
Quoting: MitchJr
Tell me you’re a fan of a small market team without…


Yep, you nailed it. I’m a fan of one of the other 24 or so teams in the league.
Jul. 30, 2023 at 11:08 a.m.
#10
Avatar of the user
Joined: Jan. 2023
Posts: 4,354
Likes: 1,411
Quoting: dopplsan
Yep, you nailed it. I’m a fan of one of the other 24 or so teams in the league.


Are you a fan of an NBA or MLB team? They are more successful than NHL and I don’t remember last time pirates or pistons made the playoffs 🤷🏻
Jul. 30, 2023 at 11:13 a.m.
#11
Bedard23
Avatar of the user
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 9,376
Likes: 4,556
Quoting: jaok3
So you want to make it like MLB, where the yankees, dodgers and teams with the biggest fanbase get to buy the best players.


And still have them choke in the postseason
Jul. 30, 2023 at 2:34 p.m.
#12
Avatar of the user
Joined: Mar. 2017
Posts: 4,839
Likes: 2,021
Quoting: dopplsan
Tell me you’re a Maple Leafs fan without telling me you’re a Maple Leafs fan.



- I understand the desire for that, but you’re never getting the NHLPA to agree to non-guaranteed contracts. Even in the NFL, there is a reason why guarantees in contracts are rising and becoming more common. Not to mention, in the NFL, shelf-life is much shorter, and serious injuries are more common.

- The main issue with the NHL salary cap isn’t that it’s a hard cap, it’s that the NHL has long been criticized for its growth, or lack there-of, even during pre-COVID. The NHL may want to cry poor when compared as part of the Big 4, but it’s by no means doing poorly.. And that’s before we get into the escrow issue.


My team allgiance has little to do with the thought process, if it did , let's go to a luxury tax.

The entire buyout system handcuffs big and small market teams alike. This is not market specific.

Moving to non-guatenteed contracts would probably not fly for the NHLPA, which is why I suggest the players also have a right to walk away. Like Tanner Pearson wouldn't right now? Hell, that would have happened last season. Or Jack Eichel's treatment fight with Buffalo? Giving players the right to say I am walking away on basis X gives players the same rights as teams at that point; which is something the PA just might noodle.
Jul. 30, 2023 at 4:43 p.m.
#13
Nah.
Avatar of the user
Joined: Sep. 2020
Posts: 4,668
Likes: 4,692
Quoting: swinny
My team allgiance has little to do with the thought process, if it did , let's go to a luxury tax.

The entire buyout system handcuffs big and small market teams alike. This is not market specific.

Moving to non-guatenteed contracts would probably not fly for the NHLPA, which is why I suggest the players also have a right to walk away. Like Tanner Pearson wouldn't right now? Hell, that would have happened last season. Or Jack Eichel's treatment fight with Buffalo? Giving players the right to say I am walking away on basis X gives players the same rights as teams at that point; which is something the PA just might noodle.


The counter to that is why would teams unilaterally give on that?

Great - Pearson, Eichel, Huberdeau, whoever can just walk away from a contract. Why would the team want that? Sure, if it’s an absolutely god-awful Clarkson-esque contract, great, but why would BUF for instance want to say “yeah, sure, let Eichel walk. We don’t need assets for him from a trade or anything.” And in that case, why would the player walk away from millions of guaranteed dollars, even if it’s a situation they are unhappy with?

If it’s a mutual decision, that’s one thing; but, that’s also allowed under the current system. There is a reason why it rarely occurs - when there is a conflict on contract, either the team wants to retain the rights so they can recoup value in a trade, or the player knows they aren’t living up to their contract, but don’t want to give up the financials. Someone is objecting to it in either regard. It’s toothpaste out of the tube at this point.

There is a reason the NFL is the only league that doesn’t offer fully guaranteed contracts as standard; but, even that is rapidly changing. The league needs player approval, the players need league approval.
 
Reply
To create a post please Login or Register
Question:
Options:
Add Option
Submit Poll