Good morning, boneheads!
The other one was getting too long so I just tried and put something together.
At the board of governors meetings in December, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced the league salary cap would rise next season from $75 million US to between $78 and $82 million. The projected salary cap increase of at least $3 million would mark the biggest jump since it went from $64.3 million in 2013-14 to $69 million in 2014-15. If the cap rises to $82 million, it will be the largest increase in league history, more than the $6.4-million bump from 2007-08 to 2008-09.
Bettman said hockey-related revenue will be around $4.54 billion this season, an 8.2% increase. The number can be attributed to a few factors. Las Vegas expansion team unexpectedly provided a big boost to the league financially. There are a couple of new arenas, plus the improvement in the value of Canadian dollar this year.
The $78-$82 million range depends on whether the NHLPA ( and the league ) agree on the “growth factor”, aka “salary cap escalator” or “inflator”.
In brief, the escalator could be somewhere between 0% and 5%, has to be agreed by both parties. Traditionally, the players opt to go for the full 5% so that their pool of players can use more money for their contracts. That, on the other hand, increases the escrow ( % of their salaries withheld from each paycheck to assure that the split remains 50/50 by the end of the year.) Generally, the players only get a small percentage of that escrow returned next year.
For this season, the players opted for a very conservative inflator of 1.6% to keep their escrow as low as possible. It’s quite possible that the players will choose to increase it next year. Again, it gives more money to sign players, but also they may not be worried about escrow as much next year. That is because of continues growth of the HRR, and also because a lot of front loaded contracts signed at the beginning of this CBA are winding down. Remember, the escrow is calculated based on the actual salaries paid out and not on the cap hit.
In any event, the numbers projected for 2018-2019 are
$78M ( no inflator )
$79.2M ( 1.6% inflator)
$80M ( 2% inflator)
$82M ( 5% inflator)
Now, the Rangers.
According to CapFriendly, the Rangers will have 11 players under contract with the Cap Hit of $51,411M ( the number includes Girardi buyout). They will have to decide on 5 RFAs ( all arbitration eligible ): Miller, Hayes, Vesey, Nieves, Skjei.
Would that bump in salary cap help this team? And would that be enough to improve their roster?
164 responses to “Salary Cap projection for 2018-2019 season and what this means for Rangers”
James – be careful, the brass are pro hockey professionals and their decisions are based upon decades of applied knowledge around critical work functions. Your role, as a fan, is to provide unquestioned loyalty and root, root, root for the home team no matter how the team performs. Do not question authority. Blind obedience is the only answer.
Apparently I’ve been diagnosed with Cognitive dissonance, SN. I’m trying my best
I swear it’s like ILB can SMELL it when I’m about to create a new post
Third man in! But I agree: The brass are pro hockey professionals and their decisions are based upon decades of applied knowledge around critical work functions. Well, yeah. Fans can do and say whatever the hell they want, like buy tickets and merchandise and other advertised products… all of which pay those professional salaries. That does not make them more knowledgeable than the pros. And you, SN, can root blindly if you like. I will stick to mere irrational laundry worship.
Ref, ref, I’m being blog-pummeled! They’re ganging up on me (turtles).
Thanks, ilb–your specialty! Something to look forward to. But time to cram some Hooke’s Law into some reluctant brains.
To answer your questions, doc I think it’s a no brainer that it helps them along with just about every team but as far as it being enough to help the roster that depends on what they do with said cap space.
I truly believe that the improvement of this roster begins with the elimination of Nash and Staal along with their contracts.
Hate to disappoint you, Norm…But my specialty is Pediatric Critical Care… 🙂
Well that explains our disconnect Norm, I’m an Ohm’s law kinda guy.
😬😬😬
Norm
I’m a Ref what can I do to minimize the cross checks? Because this is hockey and cross checks will come.
James
I agree with you 100% and I am sure I no nothing compared to the genius of Ranger management other than what I see with my own freaking eyes! If Gorton does not sell at the deadline than the bottom line is simply this “Follow The Money”
Well played ILB
I think the inflator will be on the low end. Players hate escrow and the cap will be going up a decent amount even with no inflator. So i see cap as 78 or 79 million.
Getting rid of nash contract after the year is easy. Just don’t resign him. Regarding Staal best thing to do is trade him while eating 1 to 2 million for next 3 years.
The rfas will eat up a lot of Nash’s contract savings so we really won’t have a windfall to go hog wild in ufa season.
Anyone who thinks this team can win a Stanley cup with the likes of, Holden, Smith, Shatner-Kirk, Kampfer, Staal, Carey,Desharnais,Nieves, and Roof-it-Rick needs to move to Colorado where dreaming is an everyday occurrence!
What is going on at Sabres practice? –>
No Kane here, please.
Kane is a great citizen.
Norm, Hook’s Law? Teams who miss the playoffs get a free ticket to Disneyland, but have to line up for a handjob from Captain Hook.
That’s Ohm’s Three Laws, James. (One of my favorite lame physics jokes.)
Citizen Kane, for the non movie historian. 🙂
Physicists favorite all-time skater: Atom Graves.
Smooth but not eye-catching: Niels Bore.
Eichel must be thrilled that he has his new contract in Buffalo
Does light have mass? No, although catholic, it’s not even Catholic.
Never really know where he’s going to be on the ice: Werner Heisenberg.
If you spend your life or hockey career in Buffalo, does that mean that you get out of Purgatory early?
All of this physics jibberish has given me a craving for plum pudding
I think you stay there longer in order to warm up, Coos
Rick Tocchet sure took a bunch of ugly pills since he retired.
Alex- Bettman seems to be pushing for lower inflator next year. Remains to be seen what players decide.
To hell with Buffalo!
Tocchet is not getting good looks?
Butttman may be toast if sub-rosa conversations with Adam Silver prosper. Can’t be any worse.
Why isn’t Justin Falk at home tending to his wife? Same guy? Jeez.
.
Kane will be a hot commodity as an upcoming UFA. Justin Falk…not so much.
Should’ve added- Bettman’s agenda is to lower escrow. Why should he care since it comes from players pockets? That’s because he knows the escrow will become an extremely contentious point during next CBA negotiations.
36 comments already? Slow down with g(j)ibberish, will ya? I don’t have anything until the next Go Time post. 🙂
Kane & Kane to receive hockey’s “Model Citizens Award”
Falk, 30 this year, 6’5 220 defenseman, recompensed at 650 grand.
This team needs a reboot, particularly on the back end. Regardless of Cap inflator, they will still have 2 D making first pair money that belong in 2 or 3rd pair and one making 2nd pair who is being benched.
Good thing Krampus is around to save the day.
ilb – what’s your email? A boneheaded mid season review is warranted.
Sabres despair of making Kane more team-oriented, sign Big Buff as Sergeant-at-Arms.
ilbster@yahoo.com
I was going to ask individual boneheads to write an individual player review…
Papa writes about Nash…
SN- Hayes…
BDL- Fast
Coos- Staal
and so on… 🙂
I would prefer Zucc.
Hope they play a game soon before everyone on the blog betas the hell out of each other. Although we get along better than the Sabres.
Brooksie backed up his claim that the Rangers are doing it with mirrors with some fancy stats:
For this is a team that rarely plays a full 60 minutes, is lacking in focus and intensity, is riddled with defensive-zone deficiencies, and has been kept afloat in shallow waters only by consistently spectacular goaltending of Hart Trophy contender Henrik Lundqvist and understudy Ondrej Pavelec, who have combined for a .936 save percentage and 2.17 GAA in 32 games since the calendar turned to November.
The Rangers have allowed the third most shot attempts in the NHL (while recording the eighth fewest attempts), have surrendered the second-most shots on goal, have the fourth-worst shots for/against percentage and are trending downward, yielding a fraction less than 37 shots per over the last 16 contests in which they have allowed 35 or more 11 times (40 or more five times).
I don’t see how the goalies can keep that up for the rest of the season. Not whent eh guy doing most of the heavy lifting is 36. Unless they change course after the bye, the second half of the season could get really ugly.
You can have both, BDL 🙂
SN, you’re a tough grader, I bet. So many parent conferences coming up…
Can I mention that Zucc has 1 goal in the last 13 games? Or that the PP has stunk for the last 3 seasons, and that he has been the one constant over that time? Can I mention wish passes, and over staying his shifts?
ILB handing out assignments. Someone get him a fresh batch of medical students!
Know what’s gonna be great? Watching someone throw an obnoxious contract at Kane and him proceeding to do nothing..
SN take a look at the pending ufa Dmen for this year and you may agree that a team looking for blue line help at the deadline would probably be willing to take Staal as well as Smith off our hands.
ILB wrote: “Hate to disappoint you, Norm…But my specialty is Pediatric Critical Care”. That explains why he is such a fearless leader here – considering all of the “kids” he has to put with here on Bonehead island (present company included). (HA HA HA)
I have said it before and will continue to repeat it, I don’t know what i would do without youse guys. I may not always join in the free-for-all and definitely don’t always agree, but I still love coming here (even if I know I am going to dread it) 🙂
I hope I’m wrong here, but I seethe rangers having issues in the second half of the season.
They have a lot of road games and aren’t great on the road so far and time and space will start disappearing more and more.
I’d still take Kane.
Can I mention Zucc leads the Rangers in scoring?
23 in the last 121. 20 friggin 3.
I wish carp would tell the pj stock bubble gum story again.
That’s a personality on the ice that’s actually fun to watch.
You can mention it, but it won’t change anything.
My point exactly, BDL! We’re stuck with the guy leading his team in scoring.
I would trade 2 or 3 of those rfas….which ones would depend on other roster “decisions”.
James – the new D from Gorton deals at deadline. Not that these kids are perfect, but so many teams have youngsters playing primary roles on back line along with some NYRers making solid contributions. Could they really perform any worse than the current group?
The fact that Zucc is the leading scorer is not a good thing. The fact that in his last 121 games he has a lousy 23 goals, is not a good thing. The fact that the coach continues to send him over the boards for a PP, that lets face it, has been terrible for the last 3 seasons, is not a good thing. This is not Adam Oates feeding Brett Hull. This is Mats Zuccarello, who holds onto the puck way to long, slows the entire PP down while doing it. Sure the occasional wish pass finds it way through, but those are few and far between. To me, the leading scorer, is killing them!
SN,
I don’t know if you’ve heard, but those younger D men you are referring to, there not ready. I hear they should be ready in 2 to 3 years.
Yeah 2-3 years to be 3rd pairing guys who ride the pine in close games.
I should have watched my wording, SN. What I meant to say was that potential buyers could very well see Staal or Smith as a better option than any of those ufas for their team. Therefore if they are looking to bring someone in at the deadline there could be a market for Staal or Smith.
I still think (if the rangers want to make hockey trades) you can trade mcdonut or skjeL to Edmonton or Toronto and get immediate help and futures.
Same with guys like staal (if he waives) and smith. They will get either or more than likely.
As much as st Pete is going to hate me posting this, I think zucc would be a great fit with the kings.
Ilb
Don’t waste your “valuable” time with a mid-season ranger report card.
Just give players, coaches, and management all “C”s because it’s mediocre and that all that matters to most of the posters here, a participation award team…just average.
Wicky idk that I’d want anything Edmonton has to offer. I know you like RNH. I just think he’s over rated (not that I’m a pro scout)
As for Zucc I think he potentially moves next season as a rental.
Some good news:
https://nypost.com/2018/01/09/looks-like-rangers-wont-be-without-kevin-hayes-for-long/
Hayes won’t be out long, that is good news! Hopefully another trade chip in 6 weeks!!!!
No Wicky please no! Not the kings. Trade to Anehiem so he’ll wind up on the pens and slow their PP!
It may be, BDL, that Zucc is killing the Rangers. In which case we need a few more guys killing them at his production levels. And the Rangers’ PP was 5th in the league before Zibanejad got conked. 29th since then, 18th overall. Zucc may absolutely be the problem, but there’s every chance ZIbane can get himself shooting again. Good to have a shooter there, finally.
Andersson with a grade 2 AC injury, Europansie!
We don’t need losers with silver medals around here!
With Zika out from Ovie’s office, the PP could only rely on Kreider screen as Zucc won’t shoot from right side and Left side had a lefty which makes zero sense but speaks to roster management issues.
Butch will shoot the puck and should be playing in the right slot on PP instead of Zucc. VC will also shoot ze puck. PP has one of the best feeders from up top but not shooters down below. Lordly be.
James
RNH has been one of the Oilers better players in a bad season. Not my first or even second or third choice as a centre upgrade, but potentially available and an upgrade over any of our current centres not named z pack.
Lisa played 2 games after being injured. Kid has moxie.
Miller is fine in front of goalie
Stop trying to bully me into wanting RNH, Wicky
Norm I’ll agree with you on the PP. it was operating like a well oiled machine for the most part prior to Zibby’s concussion. He hasn’t been the same player since returning.
Wicky kidding aside I’d take RNH at 2/3 of his cap hit provided we shed the likes of Nash or Zucc in the process.
Hank the Allstar! Has a nice ring to it…
New York Rangers
Verified account
@NYRangers
GAME TIME CHANGE:
RangersTown, get out our calendars. The game on February 18th against Philly has changed from 1pm to 12pm and will be on NBC.
I believe it would take a #1 to land RNH no more #1’s.
Anyone look at these Allstar rosters? Crosby and Letang? They aren’t even the 2 best players on their team. Have to wonder if this annoys Kessel who has had an outstanding season. Some other weird choices too. Not that I actually care; just find it strange.
I’d much prefer if Hank Had a Stanley Cup Championship ring.
Who wouldn’t Bdl. But it’s a testament to him that he came off a subpar year where everyone questioned whether he was “washed up” and he has had an excellent first half of the season. Hopefully he keeps it going and it leads to that elusive ring (rose-colored glasses firmly on my nose).
Time to wake up HS nice dream. But it would be great and a completion to decades of frustration!
“I hope I’m wrong here, but I seethe rangers having issues in the second half of the season.”
Nobody else notice that Wicky finally admitted that he’s a seething ranger.
Vibin’ BDL
Aneirin
Lol, my typing sucks
St Pete
We weren’t talking about acquiring him for picks, it was a “hockey trade” convo
Hank gets hurt in all star bs and is out for 2 months
This moment of cynicism brought to you by Wicky: preparing for the worst since 1994… 🙂
Where the hell are Carp, Gravy, Doodie, Booby, Fat Guy, JPG, Tommy G, and MANNY?!
Elliotte Friedman
Verified account
@FriedgeHNIC
Hearing CHI/ARIZ working on an Anthony Duclair deal
Nick Kypreos
Verified account
@RealKyper
More Nick Kypreos Retweeted Elliotte Friedman
Done deal. Hearing Richard Panik and Adam Clendenning also involved as part of the deal. @NHLBlackhawks @ArizonaCoyotes @NHL
Good move for Chi-town?
Btw-Anyone notice how 30 teams passed on Cody Franson via the waiver wire? Another almost future former ranger
Thanks for clearing that up Wicky a hockey trade that favors us would be glorious!
These days, players with concussions often return lacking the fearlessness and energy that they displayed prior to the injury. A fact seldom discussed.
Arizona management should hang themselves for taking Duke in the first place. What a fartsmell franchise.
The Duke must be happy. He got himself quite an upgrade.
James G they are on their bye week with toes firmly planted in the virtual reality sand…
coos, I’m amazed every time I see Zucc head into a corner. I know I couldn’t go from no speech to Go Ahead, Hit Me, I Love It!
Can’t blame anyone these days with a history of concussions or even one bad concussion (like Topo’s) for being a tad wary.
Being hesitant will get you hurt worse
If you are hesitant, quit playing.
Stop paying me 4 million a year and I’ll consider not playing.
After Mike Piazza was beaned, it took him over two seasons to stop ducking away from outside breaking balls. Matter of fact, he was still doing it at the end of his career. Often not willful, just psychosomatic.
Anthony Duclair and his bright future traded again.
DuCkair and Clendening the next ex NYRers to hoist hardware
That’s the third team he will score goals for. He may have just not liked the desert. If he can’t prosper with the Hawks that says something. Is he a RFA after this year?
They won’t see the Gerund or the Duke this year unless … never mind. They won’t see them.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/blackhawks-send-richard-panik-to-arizona-acquire-winger-anthony-duclair/amp/
analysis of the chi-ariz deal
No brainer for the Hawks, don’t get this move from Arizona’s boy wonder!
Cancer is a terrible disease and I wish Pierre a speedy recovery and a new career after he gets better.
https://news.hockeyfeed.com/nhl-news/breaking-very-sad-news-from-nhl-analyst-pierre-mcguire?ref=jo
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2018/01/10/nbc-hockey-analyst-pierre-mcguire-diagnosed-prostate-cancer/1022047001/
pierre had surgery to combat cancer. good luck pierre.
What did I miss…is Clendenning good again because Hawks traded for him?
some of the boys stayed local
The Duke of Chicago? I don’t know… He’s good for a goal every time he plays the Rangers. As for Arizona, I think it was a Panik move. Do I like Clendening? I don’t know I’ve never Clendenned before.
Impressively Nash has two more assists and the same amount of goals in 7 more games played than Duclair this season! And only costing us an extra $6.6m!
well done with the “new career” line, c3!
i keep reading different versions of the following on twitter. “I may not like Pierre, but I wish him well.” this is irritating to me. why must people qualify their well wishes with the “I don’t like him but…” What does whether or not u like Pierre have to do with sending well wishes.
I’d trade smith or Nash for RNH, that’s about it!
Way to go James, you brought up RNH and now he’s the hot topic here
Matt Duchene.
Well if you didn’t go all ‘hack of all trades’ he never woulda come up in the first place 🙂
DIRTY WORD! C3 SAID A DIRTY WORD!!
Vesey has the facial expression of a true Knicks fan. Way to make NY your home, kid.
Holy crap about Pierre. Somethings up with these NBC broadcast booths.. My father in law is going through treatment for it at the moment and doing well. I wish Pierre the same road to recovery
Somebody needs to check VC’s ID he doesn’t look old enough to hang with the boys!
5 RFA’s with arbitration eligibility, you can bet Gorton is not looking forward to this coming off-season!!
ilb – email
Been super busy, just catching up. Wicky – agree the team as a whole deserves a C+, slightly better than middle of the pack but unable to really differentiate. Of course, player grades can vary. But I disagree that we all want a mediocre team. Where we disagree is how and when to get better. Somebody mentioned a day or two ago about Nash/Zuc blocking VC and Buch. Certainly some truth to that and at least half of that problem will be gone very soon.
On the leadership issue – have to wonder if that may not also factor into decision on what to do with #27. None of us are in the room or know what he does or doesn’t do/say in game. But as captain, doesn’t he take at least some of the heat for the many poor 1st periods? Could managemnt wish they had a different captain? (Who?)
Nash would prosper with a linemate like Lucic, as does McDavid. Certain players need the psychological confidence of skating with a hammer.
Captain JT Miller come get the Stanley Cup?
Good morning, boneheads!
SN- Email!
I’d give “C” to Nash. We dont have to worry about his game slipping since it has been slipping the last two seasons anyway. Also, resign him for 2 more years at $2 million per. At that price, he would instantly become the best 4th liner in the league.
Nash is an odd one in terms of captaincy. Modern-day, young, best-player captain with the Jax. Elder-statesman non-captain with the Rangers.
Poor Kevin Klein. Walked away from the NHL and a year on his contract and didn’t even get named to Team Canada for the Olympics.
No thanks to resigning Nash. We need grit and possession on the 4th line not marshmallows!
Did I miss something? Why are we giving away 27’s C this morning
Offer Toronto any 5 players off the roster for Auston Matthews. Turn a lot of Rangers B players into an A player.
Because Rob. We’re theoretically trading away everyone who wears an A and we have to strip a letter off of SOMEone. Try to keep up, man. 🙂
There is a more realistic analysis on the Duclair trade in THN……
…Duclair is the biggest name in this deal because at one point, he looked like a serious offensive threat in the making. New York Rangers fans howled when the Blueshirts sacrificed him in the Keith Yandle trade and ‘The Duke’ confirmed those fears when he put up 20 goals the next season for Arizona. But Duclair hasn’t scored 20 goals total in the two seasons that followed and he even spent 16 games in the AHL with Tucson last year. Perhaps most discouraging was that he didn’t even light up the minor circuit; Duclair was a minus-11 with just eight points for the Roadrunners.
So the writing has been on the wall for a while. The talented winger doesn’t have a lot of size and he doesn’t have any defensive acumen. The situation in Arizona wasn’t getting better and a fresh start makes sense….
http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/arizona-trades-anthony-duclair-to-chicago-for-richard-panik
So Lias is rehabbing in NY. Wonder if we will see him at MSG watching a game or two.
wonder if we Lias playing at MSG this year after deadline
Rob
If McD is traded!
It’s Thursday and Roof-it-Rick is still a Ranger. Oh the pain of it all!
If the Rangers Dmen give up a late, losing goal, Andersson, though injured, will throw Ruff into the crowd.
Throw AV into the crowd, too.
Arniel should throw himself into the crowd.
ilb – email!
Crowd surfer. Now we know what Arniel does
Word, James!
and he sucks at it, too 🙂
This entire coaching staff belongs at North Dakota State, not Broadway.
Nash to the Blues for Tage Thompson. Holden the Leaves for Kappanen.
Sorry, BDL
NEW POST
https://www.buzzsprout.com/112800/622787-episode-52
dave maloney on this podcast w allen and laidlaw