NHL

[mmmmsnouts]

I want to hear more about this. Who did Nill want that's not available if he's just using Gulutzan as a temporary filler?

I don’t fault Nill, it was really unfortunate timing. All of the top coaching candidates in the offseason cycle had already been hired by other teams who didn’t make the playoffs or got knocked out early.

 

[Efcjake]

Without quibbling facts, my two issues with these ideas:



Nobody is paying or saving 30-40% in state income tax. I don't offer tax advice or legal opinions, but it seems that for high earners (the people we are talking about) you'd see effective income tax rates (before accounting wizardry) in these ranges:

Montreal: 58% (33% Canada, 25% Quebec)
Vancouver 53% (33% Canada, 20% BC)
Los Angeles: 50% (37% USA, 13% CA)
Calgary: 48% (33% Canada, 15% Alberta)
New York: 48% (37% USA, 11% NY)
Massachussets: 46% (37%, 9% MA)
Florida, Texas: 37% (37% USA, 0% state)



But they're not irrelevant; just because they aren't as easy to measure doesn't mean they're irrelevant. And just because Marchand talks about the impact of this (when has he ever not talked?) doesn't mean every player feels the same. My most basic argument is that the state-income tax discussion puts too much emphasis on a small matter that carries a lot less impact than people suggest.

My point about them being irrelevant is that those non financial factors are irrelevant to the reasoning behind a salary cap.

The cap is intended to level the financial playing field, it could never do anything about these factors outside of what is paid to a player. If the tax rate significantly alters the earning potential to the point that contracts of supposed equal value are in fact not equal value then what's the entire point of the cap?

It clearly carries some impact. These pills and the words from Marchand are blatantly telling us this.

 

[SerenityNigh]

My point about them being irrelevant is that those non financial factors are irrelevant to the reasoning behind a salary cap.

The cap is intended to level the financial playing field, it could never do anything about these factors outside of what is paid to a player. If the tax rate significantly alters the earning potential to the point that contracts of supposed equal value are in fact not equal value then what's the entire point of the cap?

It clearly carries some impact. These pills and the words from Marchand are blatantly telling us this.

I hear you, but you could just the same argue that Winnipeg gets a higher cap as well. Who actually wants to live there? Maybe add Ottawa and Buffalo to that list as well.

At some point you just have to let the teams do their thing and let the players play*. You can't balance everything, and once you start adjusting the cap for secondary factors where do you stop? I'm being silly, but only partially so, by arguing that Florida should be taxed for sunny days. Living in Miami is clearly enticing for some players, and that puts Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Buffalo at a considerable disadvantage, at least when you eliminate all other factors.

*Actually, this is already happening; at some point the argument loses effect.

 

[Efcjake]

I hear you, but you could just the same argue that Winnipeg gets a higher cap as well. Who actually wants to live there? Maybe add Ottawa and Buffalo to that list as well.

At some point you just have to let the teams do their thing and let the players play*. You can't balance everything, and once you start adjusting the cap for secondary factors where do you stop? I'm being silly, but only partially so, by arguing that Florida should be taxed for sunny days. Living in Miami is clearly enticing for some players, and that puts Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Buffalo at a considerable disadvantage, at least when you eliminate all other factors.

*Actually, this is already happening; at some point the argument loses effect.

But could the salary cap changing equalize out any of those issues? No, but it could negate this tax break advantage.

The whole point of the cap was to establish a fair financial footing but it's no longer doing that.

 

[SerenityNigh]

I just read that Marchand signed a 6 year, $5.25AAV contract with the Panthers through age 43, so as far as this conversation goes

 

[SerenityNigh]

Barkov out for season is terrible stuff but gives the rest of the league a little more hope for the playoffs. Season starts next week, let's get this thing going.

 

[mmmmsnouts]

The NHL finally closed the playoff loophole in the salary cap as well so that’s doubly hard on the Panthers. If Barkov is recovered in time for the playoffs, they can’t spend all his cap room on other players and then get him back for free. What a crying shame.

 

[SerenityNigh]

The NHL finally closed the playoff loophole in the salary cap as well so that’s doubly hard on the Panthers. If Barkov is recovered in time for the playoffs, they can’t spend all his cap room on other players and then get him back for free. What a crying shame.

certainly won't be as bad, but there are still ways to manage the cap

How NHL teams can cheat the league’s new playoff salary cap system

Past teams used long-term injury reserve to stash salary. GMs must find new loopholes to exploit under the new CBA.

www.nytimes.com