LongtimeLeafsufferer
Joined: Jul. 2015
Posts: 59,512
Likes: 22,673
I did a little research and estimated the top 6 salaries from some teams in the NHL in 2019/20.
Leafs with Marner, Matthews, Nylander, Marleau, Reilly and Andersson.....40m
Oilers with McDavid, Draisaitl, Lucic, Sekera, RHN, and Talbot. 43m
Sabres, with Eichel .ROR, Bogo, Moulson, Risto and Okposo. 39m
Bruins. with Bergeron, Krejcki, Marchant, Pasternak, Backes and Rask. 41m
Hawks. with Kane, Toews, Saad, Crawford, Keith and Seabrook. 44m
Off the top of my head, there are many teams in the same position. It seems the league is going "top heavy" with it's signing. Sure it's possible for some teams might, might have to trade a top end player for cap reasons, bu then their will likely be a lot teams in the same boat.