Gary Bettman Issues Significant Salary Cap Penalties To Fifteen NHL Teams
One of the major challenges faced by the NHL in recent years has been related to the salary cap and how certain teams have been able to exploit it. The league recently announced that for the 2022-23 season, the annual cap would be set at $82,500,000, with an expected increase of about $1,000,000 for the following season. However, approximately 15 teams are not projected to reach this new salary cap figure, prompting the NHL to intervene.
Gary Bettman Lays Down The Law
Due to various factors such as performance bonuses and lower revenues for certain teams, some will not be able to meet the minimum spending requirements, resulting in penalties. For example, the Boston Bruins are set to receive the largest punishment due to several bonuses, leaving them $4,500,000 short for the upcoming season.
Another concern that requires attention is the use of the long-term injured reserve (LTIR) by teams to gain an advantage over others in the playoffs. For instance, the Tampa Bay Lightning exceeded the cap limit by $18 million when they won the Cup in 2021, using LTIR to their advantage. Similarly, the Arizona Coyotes have been acquiring LTIR contracts simply to meet the League's minimum requirements. Addressing such issues is essential to ensure fairness and parity in the NHL.
Whether it is performance bonuses or incentive packages for veteran players, it is going to be an interesting situation for some of these teams next season!
Credit;Blade Of Steel.com
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