Official: Cap rises to 70.2 Million

[Hockey Widow]

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/sa ... story.html
NEW YORK - The NHL's salary cap is increasing despite impending labour talks.

The league and NHL Players' Association announced the cap would increase from US$64.3 million to $70.2 million.

The lower limit on what teams must spend also rose from $48.3 million to $54.2 million.

The cap, which will only be in effect until a new collective agreement is signed, will be used by teams as they negotiate contracts through the free agency period this summer.

The current CBA expires Sept. 15.

Formal negotiations for the new labour deal begin between the league and union Friday in New York.

The introduction of a salary cap and a 24 per cent rollback of salaries were added to the current CBA after the 2004-05 season was lost to lockout.


The floor also rises putting team like the Panthers in desperate need of adding salary. Just saying

But seriously, Gary hows the cap thing working for you now? Not such the victory you though eh? Bet the owners who bought into he cap idea as saving them money are wondering when that will happen. Right, right after you cause a work stoppage to get the roll backs right?

[dbr]

Elliotte Friedman has a couple of sources saying the current CBA (permanently rising cap and all) has saved the owners $2-3.2 billion.

[SKYO]

So if MG does nothing this offseason except sign Shultzy, and stay with the same o same o team.

Re-sign CS at $4M per, Ray @ $2.1M, Weise @ $750K
Shultz with bonuses - $3.5M per, Salo @ $2M

We can still have both goalies signed and still have cap space left to get a 3rd line UFA center.

FORWARDS
Daniel Sedin ($6.100m) / Henrik Sedin ($6.100m) / Alexandre Burrows ($2.000m)
Mason Raymond ($2.100m) / Ryan Kesler ($5.000m) / David Booth ($4.250m)
Chris Higgins ($1.900m) / Maxim Lapierre ($1.000m) / Jannik Hansen ($1.350m)
Dale Weise ($0.750m) / Manny Malhotra ($2.500m) / Zack Kassian ($0.870m)
Aaron Volpatti ($0.600m) /

DEFENSEMEN
Dan Hamhuis ($4.500m) / Kevin Bieksa ($4.600m)
Alexander Edler ($3.250m) / Justin Schultz ($3.500m)
Keith Ballard ($4.200m) / Sami Salo ($2.000m)
Chris Tanev ($0.900m) /

GOALTENDERS
Roberto Luongo ($5.333m)
Cory Schneider ($4.000m)

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CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $70,200,000; CAP PAYROLL: $66,803,333; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $3,396,667


However our top 6 forwards really need a facelift and definitely need a change-up a bit.

Would like to see Ray gone, Booth moved back to LW and acquire a new 2nd line RW.

If we do get Shultzy, would like to see Ballard traded for a 3rd line center.

And then sign someone like tough guy Bryan Allen, as we have a pressing need for another pure defensive dman, as Hammy can't be the only one!

[Topper]

So if MG does nothing this offseason except sign Shultzy, and stay with the same o same o team.

Re-sign CS at $4M per, Ray @ $2.1M, Weise @ $750K
Shultz with bonuses - $3.5M per, Salo @ $2M

We can still have both goalies signed and still have cap space left to get a 3rd line UFA center.

Which is what GMMG has been saying for months with few listening.

[donlever]

Which is what GMMG has been saying for months with few listening.

Yeah, but there is no soap opera element then.

That's no fun for anyone.

[Strangelove]

The floor also rises putting team like the Panthers in desperate need of adding salary. Just saying

The Panthers aren't a cap-floor team (their payroll was ~ $55.5mil last year).

But the good news is they DO have money burning holes in their pockets.

Just a guess but I think they'll go as high as $60mil this year.

And hey, they they are now saving $8.8mil on these 4 useless players they dropped:

Sturm($2mil), Wolski($4mil), Clemmensen($1.2mil), Santorelli($1.6mil).

Samuelsson($2.5mil) is also coming off the books as well as Bradley ($950).

Their core remains in place and they've got extra $$.

They've got plenty of money to spend on a player like Lou, and twas good to hear the owners confirm that.

If Lou truly wants to go home to Florida, Gillis and Tallon will make it happen imo.