Quoting: Leafsfan98
I think what NorthernLeafsFan05 was the NBA format of salary cap, not the unlimited on the MLB has:
"So, even though NBA owners can't spend unlimited money like MLB owners can, they can still go over the salary cap (to a degree)"
https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/mlb/news/mlb-salary-cap-luxury-tax-nfl-nba-nhlstrugglecontracts/4b84e9dcb056cb3c9685ace1#:~:text=No%2C%20MLB%20does%20not%20have,t%20mind%20paying%20the%20tax.
Basically, it still allows the smaller market teams to compete but also gives competitive teams some cap leeway to make the game more exciting (as big trades/FA signings/// are what the NHL can advertise and make money off it)
Even with a luxary tax many teams will still become OP. Look at Golden State. They were and still be 83m over the NBA cap
Imagine that in the NHL, sure its expensive for ownership but do they care no. He actually has plans to spend more.
Only 1 NBA team is under both tax thresholds rn and its Utah.
Smaller market teams still struggle. Sure there are some being forced to spend lots of money but its not sustainable just as Milwaukee bucks. All to make their star happy they are spending more than they want to rn as if not he is threatening to leave.
As said before introducing that kind of system would allow the big market teams to become OP and the smaller market teams to struggle. Larger market teams would outbid the smaller ones due to a multitude of factors.
If the NHL did this 5 or 6 teams would disappear due to player retention issues and not being able to keep up with the pay structure. With some teams already have ticket issues last thing they want is this.