Not necessarily. Pay him $4M, (assuming that’s his market value), defer say $1.5M, cap hit becomes 2.5M.
That’s how Hughes should attempt to structure every contract under the new higher salary cap ceilings over the next 3 years — provided of course, a player is willing. Probably easier to do with higher salaried players, but still worth a try.
These players have done it:
« Four players—the Hurricanes' Jacob Slavin and Seth Jarvis, the Maple Leafs' Jake McCabe, and the Ducks' Frank Vatrano—have accepted deferred compensation as part of new contracts or extensions since July 1. »
That’s what Patrice Bergeron should have done rather than foolishly accept a low salary.
Beats putting players on LTIR every year to create AAV room.
This is also a good way to have new contracts not exceed Suzuki’s AAV — offer to pay any excess market value as deferred compensation.