Won't Lind, Juolevi, Dipetro have to be protected as well? More than 2 years pro under their belts, or are their age parameters that I have forgotten about?
Dipietro no. 1st year as a pro in the AHL this season. Next season is year 2, so he is exempt.
Juolevi is eligible. Lind, not sure. His ELC did not slide, like Shinkaruk's did when he played in the AHL a year after his draft.
As for the Cap and making decisions, that will dictate everything.
Big picture to remember is that the NHL Owners will retain their 50% of revenues. So, whether it's with a lower salary cap or maintaining the current salary cap number, but having a much larger escrow claw back, the owners are going to get their 50%. It really comes down to how the players want to allocate the 50% among their ranks.
Do the players just keep the cap flat and have everyone take a 30% escrow hit? That's fair to everyone.
Could drop the cap down to lessen the escrow, but free agents get hit hard.
So, end of the day, it falls on the players.