Salary Cap: Salary cap to increase ~10% next season

[headwire]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=695203&navid=nhl:topheads

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- The salary cap for the 2014-15 season is projected to be approximately $71 million, a growth of more than 10 percent, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said at the League's Board of Governors meeting on Monday.

This is good news for the Leafs. We have the following players to sign before next season (from capgeek as of 10/12/2013), listed in no particular order:

UFA:

Dave Bolland
Nikolai Kulemin
Jay McClement
Mason Raymond
Trevor Smith
Dion Phaneuf
Mark Fraser
Paul Ranger

As well as a smattering of AHL players (Staubitz, Lasch, Bodie, MacIntyre, and Smithson).

RFA:

Peter Holland
Jerry D'Amigo
Carter Ashton
Cody Franson
Jake Gardiner
James Reimer

Again, a few AHL guys are coming off their entry level contracts next year as well (Abbott, Brennan, Devane, and Ryan).

Plus, cap hits for retained salaries for Ben Scrivens and Matt Frattin come off the books ($500K), and buyouts for Colby Armstrong and Darcy Tucker are finished as well ($2M).

Current cap hit is $64.3M, and as of 10/12/2013 the Leafs are pretty much right at the cap.

I won't start trying to predict what I think players will get in their next contracts. However, there is enough information here to start the discussion and there are folks on this site much better at that game.

Cheers!

Click to read more...

 

[Chandrashekhar Limit]

This means we can keep all of our main FA's and afford to give the goalies a raise next year.

Huge news for us

 

[Ricky Bobby]

Sign Phaneuf, Bolland.

Sign Ranger if he's willing to take another hometown deal.

Goodbye Fraser who overachieved last year due to getting a jump on competition for having played in the AHL but has gotten more and more exposed as time has gone on.

Deal Kulemin, Raymond, McClement for extra assets prior to the deadline. We shouldn't be spending more money on the wings McClement is a 4th line center and as good as he is on the PK, him not being good on the draw hurts us. Unless their willing to take hometown discount adios because we need extra picks and cap space for a higher end center or Dman.

 

[Punn]

Heatley, Dany » L MIN 32 $7,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Gaborik, Marian » R CLB 31 $7,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Vanek, Thomas » L NYI 29 $7,142,857 2014 (UFA)
Thornton, Joe » C SJS 34 $7,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Marleau, Patrick » L SJS 34 $6,900,000 2014 (UFA)
Boyle, Dan » D SJS 37 $6,666,667 2014 (UFA)
Stastny, Paul » C COL 27 $6,600,000 2014 (UFA)
Phaneuf, Dion » D TOR 28 $6,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Miller, Ryan » G BUF 33 $6,250,000 2014 (UFA)
Iginla, Jarome » R BOS 36 $6,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Cammalleri, Mike » L CGY 31 $6,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Timonen, Kimmo » D PHI 38 $6,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Markov, Andrei » D MTL 34 $5,750,000 2014 (UFA)
Alfredsson, Daniel » R DET 40 $5,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Gionta, Brian » R MTL 34 $5,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Hemsky, Ales » R EDM 30 $5,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Whitney, Ray » L DAL 41 $4,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Legwand, David » C NAS 33 $4,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Jokinen, Olli » C WPG 35 $4,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Brodeur, Martin » G NJD 41 $4,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Hiller, Jonas » G ANA 31 $4,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Pitkanen, Joni » D CAR 30 $4,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Michalek, Milan » L OTT 29 $4,333,333 2014 (UFA)
Callahan, Ryan » R NYR 28 $4,275,000 2014 (UFA)
Zidlicky, Marek » D NJD 36 $4,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Roy, Derek » C STL 30 $4,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Meszaros, Andrej » D PHI 28 $4,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Jagr, Jaromir » R NJD 41 $4,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Quincey, Kyle » D DET 28 $3,775,000 2014 (UFA)
Halak, Jaroslav » G STL 28 $3,750,000 2014 (UFA)
Salo, Sami » D TBL 39 $3,750,000 2014 (UFA)
Thomas, Tim » G FLA 39 $3,750,000 2014 (UFA)
Orpik, Brooks » D PIT 33 $3,750,000 2014 (UFA)
Koivu, Saku » C ANA 39 $3,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Mitchell, Willie » D LAK 36 $3,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Stajan, Matt » C CGY 29 $3,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Schultz, Nick » D EDM 31 $3,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Dubnyk, Devan » G EDM 27 $3,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Tallinder, Henrik » D BUF 34 $3,375,000 2014 (UFA)
Bolland, Dave » C TOR 27 $3,375,000 2014 (UFA)
Steen, Alexander » L STL 29 $3,362,500 2014 (UFA)
Girardi, Dan » D NYR 29 $3,325,000 2014 (UFA)
Robidas, Stephane » D DAL 36 $3,300,000 2014 (UFA)
Nabokov, Evgeni » G NYI 38 $3,250,000 2014 (UFA)
Moulson, Matt » L BUF 30 $3,133,333 2014 (UFA)
Phillips, Chris » D OTT 35 $3,083,333 2014 (UFA)
Samuelsson, Mikael » R DET 36 $3,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Setoguchi, Devin » R WPG 26 $3,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Vrbata, Radim » R PHX 32 $3,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Grabovski, Mikhail » C WAS 29 $3,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Jokinen, Jussi » L PIT 30 $3,000,000 2014 (UFA)
Klesla, Rostislav » D PHX 31 $2,975,000 2014 (UFA)
Greene, Matt » D LAK 30 $2,950,000 2014 (UFA)
Ott, Steve » C BUF 31 $2,950,000 2014 (UFA)
Kulemin, Nikolai » R TOR 27 $2,800,000 2014 (UFA)
Morris, Derek » D PHX 35 $2,750,000 2014 (UFA)
Downie, Steve » R PHI 26 $2,650,000 2014 (UFA)
Stempniak, Lee » R CGY 30 $2,500,000 2014 (UFA)
Cogliano, Andrew » C ANA 26 $2,390,000 2014 (UFA)
Niskanen, Matt » D PIT 27 $2,300,000 2014 (UFA)





UFA 2014. Expect most teams to resign these guys considering the cap will be going up...

Oh see what I did there

 

[Cor]

Dave Bolland - Keep
Nikolai Kulemin - Trade
Jay McClement - Keep
Mason Raymond - Depends on Price
Trevor Smith - Meh, he can stay
Dion Phaneuf - Keep
Mark Fraser - Can Go
Paul Ranger - Keep
James Reimer - Keep
Jake Gardiner - Keep

Ranger @ 1.2
Phaneuf @ 7.2
Bolland @ 3.5
McClement @ 1.8
Raymond @ 2.5 MAX
Reimer @ 2.9
Gardiner @ 2-3M?
Smith @ 850K

22Mish to re-sign all of these.

 

[MajorityRules*]

I know it was about more than just the salaries but the last two lockouts seem pretty useless considering how quickly the cap goes up.

 

[Penalty Kill Icing*]

Time to get in armchair GM mode.

Let go of: Fraser, (maybe) Ranger, McClement.
Sign two way contract to: Smith.

RFA signing: Gardiner, Reimer, Holland (two-way), Amigo (two-way), Ashton (two-way)
RFA: Franson (no idea what will happen).


McClement really serves no purpose to this team, unless he can lead the PK to top 10 by the end of the season (To be honest, I'd be happy if we even get out of bottom 10. Just means that not interested in re-signing him if our PK is bottom 10).

 

[Deebo]

I know it was about more than just the salaries but the last two lockouts seem pretty useless considering how quickly the cap goes up.

With revenues at this level, the cap would have been over 80M under the old CBA.

 

[Patience]

Why trade away upcoming free agents for future assets if you're trying to qualify for the playoffs? The last I checked, the goal is the Stanley Cup not the most draft picks in June.

 

[RedRenegade]

Good post, thanks for the info OP. Cor you missed Gardiner. Gotta keep the kid! Unless we're trading him for a solid return of course.

 

[Cor]

Good post, thanks for the info OP. Cor you missed Gardiner. Gotta keep the kid! Unless we're trading him for a solid return of course.

Completely forgot about him. Added

 

[Michael Gary Scott]

Girardi and Orpik would be good to look at if they hit FA. Replace Fraser and Ranger with those two and we're looking a lot more respectable.

McClement can bite the high hard one if he wants anything more that 1.5

 

[Kamiccolo]

Dave Bolland - Keep
Nikolai Kulemin - Trade
Jay McClement - Keep
Mason Raymond - Depends on Price
Trevor Smith - Meh, he can stay
Dion Phaneuf - Keep
Mark Fraser - Can Go
Paul Ranger - Keep
James Reimer - Keep

Ranger @ 1.2
Phaneuf @ 7.2
Bolland @ 3.5
McClement @ 1.8
Raymond @ 2.5 MAX
Reimer @ 2.9

19.1M to re-sign all of these.

Reimer I think will be worth somewhere between 3 and 5 mil, no way he is work 2.9 unless he takes a huge discount for the team. He is a starter in the NHL, and could easily get 3 to 5 in FA.

Edit: **** he's RFA. Still, I'd like to see if we could sign him to a 5 year, 3.5 mil deal or something. Best case we have a starter signed to a good hit longterm, worst we have a starter signed to money we can afford to pay to be a backup to bernier

 

[Strategy]

Deal Kulemin, Raymond, McClement for extra assets prior to the deadline. We shouldn't be spending more money on the wings McClement is a 4th line center and as good as he is on the PK, him not being good on the draw hurts us. Unless their willing to take hometown discount adios because we need extra picks and cap space for a higher end center or Dman.

No way we should get rid of Kulemin, Raymond, McClement. I'd rather get rid of Clarkson first and keep 2 of those 3. Kulemin is underrated here and McClement is one of the best defensive players we have

 

[Punn]

No way we should get rid of Kulemin, Raymond, McClement. I'd rather get rid of Clarkson first and keep 2 of those 3. Kulemin is underrated here and McClement is one of the best defensive players we have

How do you suppose we do that?

 

[MajorityRules*]

With revenues at this level, the cap would have been over 80M under the old CBA.

Quite the jump from the 39 million this all started at after the 2004 lockout.

 

[KuleminFan41]

We shouldn't sign everyone for obvious reasons. We need to get better and let some guys go or trade them. But the increase in cap, 2.5m coming off the books from Scrivens, Frattin, Armstrong and Tucker so that will also help.

 

[Ricky Bobby]

No way we should get rid of Kulemin, Raymond, McClement. I'd rather get rid of Clarkson first and keep 2 of those 3. Kulemin is underrated here and McClement is one of the best defensive players we have

They also represent money that we need for a high end Center or Dman.

McClement is one of the best defensive players but he also adds absolutely nothing offensively and him not being great but only good on faceoffs also limit his value.

Kulemin I really like but with big money tied to Kessel, Lupul, JVR, Clarkson we can't afford another winger that will command 3+. I also wish we didn't sign Clarkson and it never made sense to me in the 1st place but he won't be going anywhere.

Guys like Gauthier, Leivo, random UFAs can replace Kulemin, McClement. We need money (and trade assets like picks/prospects) for top end players not role players!

 

[Hero]

It's crazy, but I would of signed McClement for 6 years.

We know what we got in him, has been incredibly steady every year, and is so so critical to our team.

2.0 x 6 years would be gorgeus

 

[I Believe]

I thought 70 million would've been a best case scenario, this is obviously huge for us. Didn't think it would go up that much so soon.

 

[Mess]

While the +$7 mil increase will assist the Leafs in resigning their own UFA and RFA players, it will also dampen the hopes of those that want the Leafs to spend more on UFAs to build the team.

More cap for everyone means less UFAs to hit the market as teams can afford their own players as well.

Also less likely to be in cap trouble that require dealing players for cap reasons.

So it comes back to drafting and developing your talent with less players available via trade and UFA.

 

[Rare Jewel]

UFA

Dave Bolland - Re-sign/3.5 - 4.2M
Nikolai Kulemin - let go
Jay McClement - Re-sign, won't go over 2.5M
Mason Raymond - let go
Trevor Smith - let go
Dion Phaneuf - Re-sign/6.75 - 7M
Mark Fraser - let go
Paul Ranger - Re-sign

RFA

Cody Franson - Trade
James Reimer - Not sure
Jake Gardiner - Re-sign/2.5 - 2.7M
Peter Holland - Re-sign/1.7m
Jerry D'amigo - Re-sign/QO

 

[New Liskeard]

They also represent money that we need for a high end Center or Dman.

McClement is one of the best defensive players but he also adds absolutely nothing offensively and him not being great but only good on faceoffs also limit his value.

Kulemin I really like but with big money tied to Kessel, Lupul, JVR, Clarkson we can't afford another winger that will command 3+. I also wish we didn't sign Clarkson and it never made sense to me in the 1st place but he won't be going anywhere.

Guys like Gauthier, Leivo, random UFAs can replace Kulemin, McClement. We need money (and trade assets like picks/prospects) for top end players not role players!

You do realize that not all 3rd liners and 4th liners are expected to put up points? McClement's value is in his PK and he is arguably one of the best in the entire NHL, and to expect offence makes no sense whatsoever.

The cap increase brings value without question to Liles and his contract. I noticed many have not shown Franson to be re-signed. The leafs main targets should be

Orpik/Girrardi, and I expect Reimer to be traded this offseason for help on the blueline, possibly even packaged with Gardiner.

 

[Areathrasher]

Don't forget Kessels pay rise kicks in and will eat some of that up.

 

[egd27]

Why trade away upcoming free agents for future assets if you're trying to qualify for the playoffs? The last I checked, the goal is the Stanley Cup not the most draft picks in June.

That's crazy talk.