Gary Bettman Dismisses Claims that NHL Players Favor Low-Tax Cities
NHL Gary Bettman tried to set the record straight regarding the criticism surrounding why certain free agents tend to sign with specific and unique criteria.
The 2025 free agent class is going to be heavily scrutinized and watched with a keen eye as big names like Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, and Brad Marchand are just some of the players potentially on the move this summer.
With those big names come big contracts and players like Marner and Rantanen are expected to command deals in the $13-14M range per season, and their final destination depends on more than just Stanley Cup dreams, as this is the new home for their families for the foreseeable future, or potentially life.
So a lot of talk then surrounds why certain free agents tend to choose places that have a more favorable tax system, allowing them to keep more of their contract over the long-term. It makes fans upset however, the NHL Commissioner believes there isn't any issues and just happens to be a coincidence.
Gary Bettman Believes Taxes Are Non-Issue For Free Agents
Speaking on The Real Kyper and Bourne Show, the NHL Commissioner, decked in an uncharacteristic black hoodie, talked about the tax situation:
We're not hearing from the players it's an issue, you can't just look at taxes. Cost of living, cost of housing, what's a desirable place to live in?
The fact we have a cap means one team no matter what jurisdiction they're in will scoop up the best player with the best economic deal, but it's something we look at to make sure there's a fundamental basis to what I'm saying. Based on the preliminary analysis, what I am saying is correct."
Leave it to the 'Commish to be humble in his assessment, and while he's not wrong foundationally, he is missing the bigger picture.
In Florida, the average cost of living is nearly $60,210 yearly, meanwhile California has an average of $76,960 as their amount; a significant amount compared to a place like Montreal where even at its highest is only around $30,000 yearly.
In terms of desirability, it's obvious that a person who spends the majority of their time on the ice would like a sunny residence spot, there's always the potential for natural disasters in these places that can cause catastrophic damage; another factor that players need to remind themselves of.
Maple Leafs forward John Tavares has been embroiled in some tax controversy, and while Bettman can play it off; there's the genuine fact that a player who signs in Canada will be taxed more heavily and it's unavoidable, so the desirability drops significantly.
Gary Bettman may think that the tax situation in the NHL is much ado about nothing, but the simple fact is that he is either ignorant to, or orchestrating the truth that US teams have held a considerable advantage for signing free agents, and it seems like that's going to only get stronger.
