A team from Florida will be competing in the Stanley Cup final for the 6th year in a row

[The Pale King]

They got a islanders type dynasty going but they gotta win this cup to get there.

Come on man... one Cup vs 4 straight, and 19 straight playoff series wins only ended by the consensus #1 player of all-time in his absolute prime on a dynasty of his own.

It's not close yet, full stop. They might get close some day but they are several tiers (and seasons) apart as far as dynasties are concerned.

 

[pb1300]

I kind of agree but think you might be overstating it, as I tend to think about the state/provincial tax (or lack thereof) in general.

I'm not saying it doesn't exist - it's obviously there. There are ways to minimize its effect when playing for a team in a higher income tax jurisdiction. It's an advantage (albeit not a "huge" one in my opinion), yes, but one of many that exist around the league depending on market (with each market having its own different set of advantages and disadvantages). Do they collectively all even each other out in the end? No, not really, I wouldn't say.

The idea that teams in tax-free states like Florida have some unfair advantage is a bit overblown. NHL players are high-net-worth individuals with excellent financial advisors and agents who specialize in navigating tax laws. There are legal strategies, like incorporating in low-tax states, leveraging signing bonuses, setting up deferrals, and using deductions, that can offset local income tax obligations.

It is an advantage on the surface, but there are ways around that “tax” issue that make it close to a level playing field. The real problem with this argument is that many people don’t actually understand the nuances, they just see “taxes, taxes, taxes” and run with it. It goes over their head, because once you actually research it and look into the financial options available to players, you realize it’s not the decisive factor some make it out to be. You can’t keep leaning on it as a crutch when there are ways to mitigate the impact and still build competitive teams across the league.

 

[Ratsreign]

Not solely because, it's a multi-factored equation, but to deny the advantage exposes an individuals lack of understanding.

No one ever tries to argue that it’s not an advantage.
The pushback happens with the many times someone will come in here talking about “it’s all about the taxes!” as if that is the only reason and is all that it took for the Panthers to become this good.

 

[Gizmoskevich]

Come on man... one Cup vs 4 straight, and 19 straight playoff series wins only ended by the consensus #1 player of all-time in his absolute prime on a dynasty of his own.

It's not close yet, full stop. They might get close some day but they are several tiers (and seasons) apart as far as dynasties are concerned.

I agree in a sense. But really it’s not fair to compare the accomplishments between both teams when the eras are vastly different.

But also if people didn’t call Tampa a dynasty from 2020-2022 then Florida shouldn’t be either if they win again this year.

 

[Son of Nogatco]

Source?

I've seen many American fans saying they should get rid of all the Canadian teams, too.

lol “many” yeah right

 

[The Pale King]

I agree in a sense. But really it’s not fair to compare the accomplishments between both teams when the eras are vastly different.

But also if people didn’t call Tampa a dynasty from 2020-2022 then Florida shouldn’t be either if they win again this year.

I'm all for expanding the definition of dynasty in an era of more teams and parity, but saying they are even close to the Islanders run, at this point in time, is a huge stretch.

Again, they might get there, but let's give them some space to grow into that tier by respecting the history. Those Isles teams get overlooked, and it's cause of stuff like this. They aren't ahead of the early 70s Bruins or early 90s Penguins at this stage, and those teams are well back of the Trottier/Bossy/Potvin Isles teams.

 

[T REX]

Remember when we stole Bob for 10mil a year for 7 years due to taxes.
Or Dave Bolland for 5.5mil a year?
Or Kopecky for 3mil?
Or even Yandle?

If it wasn't for our tax advantage, Bob would of taken 15mil!

People think Florida became a powerhouse due to taxes are just ignorant. Tallon built the foundation, and Zito overhauled 80% of the roster via trades and under the radar signings.

any team could of signed Carter V. years ago. We only offered him like $1m for 2 years after the Lightning didn't tender him.
Any team could of traded for Bennett.
Any team could of claimed Forsling.
Traded for Montour for a 3rd.
Buffalo gave us Reinhart for Levi and a first and some other pieces. His first extension here was around the same $ that he got in Buffalo.
Maurice stepping down and Zito convincing him to come here also played a big part too.

What others don't understand is they've built a culture here. Players here want to win, and it's a group effort to take less to be able to keep signing new blood on the roster to keep the team competitive. Sure, the location is nice and $ retained I'm sure helps a bit, but there's no passengers on the Panthers. 10-20 years ago Broward was still nice when you had money, but no one wanted to play here except the guys looking for their last big paycheck. Had guys like Bouwmeester counting down the days to bolt. Horton half assing it for years. Only Weiss and Olli playing well, along with most goalies.

Great post. Anyone yelling about tax advantage is just bitter and jealous they don't have a good GM. You are 100% correct.

Look at JBB's moves before he lost his magic touch. Perry, Maroon, Savard, etc etc. Winners are built not magically handed over bc of taxes. I'm disappointed at the lack of recognition of excellence vs the BS excuses. Look at your own team's faults instead of tearing down others.

I hope FL wins again just so I can have the schadenfreude. Delightful. Peace out.

 

[Crazy Monkey]

In before someone starts bitching about how being a tax free state trumps good drafting and GMing.

I mean it certainly helps. As does the weather. It's allowed to be both and all of these factors have helped Tampa and the Cats

 

[lopper]

It’s Gary Bettman’s wet dream

 

[Voight]

Lets ask Florida residents if they want to add a 30% tax to their income since it doesn't matter?

Great straw man argument.

 

[NYRfan85]

I never would have imagined that Florida/Tampa would represent the East for 6 straight years not too long ago. Outside of FLA '96 and TB '04, both teams were usually battling for last place in the conference.

 

[Bobby Butler]

Lol to be fair I seen a clip the other day Reinhart makes 3 mill less then marner yet nets more. So please explain how that's not a HUGE advantage?

If you saw a clip of it, it has to be true

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

nobody says being tax free is more important, but having a no tax advantage pushes you over top of other teams who could have slightly better drafting/GMing etc that you wouldn't necessarily be better than otherwise

Then how would you explain from 2004 to 2019 in the cap era when players avoided those franchises like the plague? Did state income taxes only become a thing in 2020? Apparently player agents before the 2020 were just doing coke off of hooker's asses and couldn't figure out that higher income taxes = bad?

 

[Lshap]

I'm all for expanding the definition of dynasty in an era of more teams and parity, but saying they are even close to the Islanders run, at this point in time, is a huge stretch.

Again, they might get there, but let's give them some space to grow into that tier by respecting the history. Those Isles teams get overlooked, and it's cause of stuff like this. They aren't ahead of the early 70s Bruins or early 90s Penguins at this stage, and those teams are well back of the Trottier/Bossy/Potvin Isles teams.

Agreed. The last thing the Panthers and their fans should want is to be tagged with an unearned "Dynasty" label. Enjoy the contending window for what it is, without the desperate overhype and the backlash from everyone going, "Um.... no".

 

[Greatzsky 99]

If the Panthers were basement dwellers they wouldn't be an attractive destination for players. It's that simple. Players for the most part want to win above all, they won't sign with bad teams just because they'll save on income tax.

I also believe this, i think people think more what they themselves would do, its
totally differnt when you have enough to live a luxury life for the rest of your life,
there is just that many lobsters and champagne you can drink, Lindros and Sundin
didnt change teams cause better paycheck was looming. For ordinary people
the weather and less tax is more appealing, thats what i guess, and for me
whos grown up with seasons, the allure of always summer isnt that appealing

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

Since 2018

4 Stanley Cups and counting
7 Finals appearances
11 Conference Finals appearances
3 Presidents Trophies
12 Division Titles

Y’all ****ed around with the SouthEast Division and now you’re finding out

You say that with the SouthLeast, and a certain aspect of it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. When you're that bad for that long, you end up with a bunch of early lottery picks, and if you get some good hockey guys running the show at the right time (Brisebois and Zito), the potential for a breakout is definitely there.

Interesting to me how some teams are able to turn the corner from joke to contender quickly, and others wander forever in the desert. I'm a Hawks fan since the early-mid 90's, and I never expected them to turn it around after 15 years of Dollar Bill's shyte. Somehow they changed the culture and turned it around. Still not sure if that's just dumb luck with drafting "winners", because while the Tallon/Bowman delivered results, they're seen as somewhere between marginal and downright terrible here.

 

[FinlandPanther]

Lol to be fair I seen a clip the other day Reinhart makes 3 mill less then marner yet nets more. So please explain how that's not a HUGE advantage?

And Marner gets way more in endorsements. So tell me again now?

 

[tarheelhockey]

You say that with the SouthLeast, and a certain aspect of it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. When you're that bad for that long, you end up with a bunch of early lottery picks, and if you get some good hockey guys running the show at the right time (Brisebois and Zito), the potential for a breakout is definitely there.

Interesting to me how some teams are able to turn the corner from joke to contender quickly, and others wander forever in the desert. I'm a Hawks fan since the early-mid 90's, and I never expected them to turn it around after 15 years of Dollar Bill's shyte. Somehow they changed the culture and turned it around. Still not sure if that's just dumb luck with drafting "winners", because while the Tallon/Bowman delivered results, they're seen as somewhere between marginal and downright terrible here.

It says something… I’m just not sure what I guess if it were that easy to figure out, everyone would be making the millions.

 

[Summer Rose]

You think so? They always say that hockey is a game with the thinnest of margins, where one bounce or post means everything. In a 7 game series, where the last game might be won by a score of 3-2, is it not reasonable to believe that the outcome would have been different if a team was not able to ice a roster that would be 5M+ over the cap if some of their contracts, especially top end contracts, were signed somewhere else?

You know, you do make a good point when you put it that way, so perhaps it’s a bigger variable than I thought.

What I’ll admit is that people on both sides of this issue is that we’re all going off of incomplete information and drawing a guess based on that. Unless we were hypothetically able to analyze every single player’s tax returns (which we can’t and I’d fathom a guess that it would be illegal if we tried to), we can’t know everything.

Although again, the way you put it changes my mind somewhat, in the sense that it’s probably a bigger advantage than I originally thought.

 

[Zerotonine]

And Marner gets way more in endorsements. So tell me again now?

And you no this as factual?and what does marners endorsements have to do with teams signing players for less and benefitingfrom tax free states? What a reach lolol

 

[Zerotonine]

If you saw a clip of it, it has to be true

It was posted on Twitter I beleive

 

[Ghost of Murph]

Wow. Thia thread blew up while I spent the afternoon polishing all of my replica Cup trophies that Seattle, Nashville, and Dallas have won this century. You know, those teams from states with no personal state income taxes. Very restful afternoon.

 

[FinlandPanther]

And you no this as factual?and what does marners endorsements have to do with teams signing players for less and benefitingfrom tax free states? What a reach lolol

Because he makes money lmao that he wouldn’t get in other markets. Use some brain power

 

[Zerotonine]

Because he makes money lmao that he wouldn’t get in other markets. Use some brain power

We're talking about how teams being able to sign players for less in tax free states. Is a huge benefit towards the cap and your telling me to use my brain??? That's pretty rich guy...

 

[RevengeOfTheDrai]

Wow. Thia thread blew up while I spent the afternoon polishing all of my replica Cup trophies that Seattle, Nashville, and Dallas have won this century. You know, those teams from states with no personal state income taxes. Very restful afternoon.

The viewpoint makes sense from a standpoint of no taxes with a combination with other factors, such as weather and good management. There’s teams who have good management but don’t win cups because they’re missing other two factors(no tax, weather) that Florida has. It’s definitely a leg up to constructing a championship team, it’s just not the only factor, which is why Seattle, Nashville, and Dallas don’t have the same success.

Then again, you could argue Rantanen signed for 12 because of the friendly tax environment. I believe he asked for more in higher tax Colorado.