Which teams are best positioned going forward with the salary cap about to explode?

[db2011]

Surprised I haven’t seen the Jackets mentioned

New here?

 

[Svechhammer]

For a single run or a short window sure, but you’re talking about adding some premium upper middle class depth without huge term + a Rantanen extension maybe. I can’t see them maxxing out that extra cap space year in year out on the type of 7x15+ that star UFAs are going to be getting. There’s a difference in the tangible benefit between being able to keep Pesce and add a another top-6 W at 7 mil a year vs coming out as the top bidder on McDavid’s brand new 7x16 with 20mil signing bonuses every July 1st. The latter is likely going to stay as the regularly scheduled Toronto/NYR UFA mistake that kills their contention window.

The next time Dundon doesn't spend to the cap, or at least within a million or so to allow for a deadline deal, will be the first time he's not done so since buying the franchise. He has done so every year, with the only exception being the season in which he bought the team in January or February.

Your narrative doesn't align with reality.

 

[tarheelhockey]

For a single run or a short window sure, but you’re talking about adding some premium upper middle class depth without huge term + a Rantanen extension maybe. I can’t see them maxxing out that extra cap space year in year out on the type of 7x15+ that star UFAs are going to be getting. There’s a difference in the tangible benefit between being able to keep Pesce and add a another top-6 W at 7 mil a year vs coming out as the top bidder on McDavid’s brand new 7x16 with 20mil signing bonuses every July 1st. The latter is likely going to stay as the regularly scheduled Toronto/NYR UFA mistake that kills their contention window.

It seems like you’re conflating “spend to the cap” with “sign horrible contracts”.

I’m pretty sure any team in the NHL would spend to a $105M cap if they were in a contention window. Sure they might take a step back and not sign a bunch of pointless veterans to bloated contracts during a rebuild, but that’s hardly because they can’t. Chicago for example is holding back some cap flexibility, but not because they can’t afford it.

 

[Ratsreign]

Barkov, Reinhart, Tkachuk, Verhaeghe, Forsling, Lundell all are already locked in. Should be able to keep Bennett around after this season, and also Ekblad...
Zito will have some room to maneuver going forward.
Let’s go Panthers!

 

[LordStanlersCup]

FLA, TBL, NJD, and OTT are the standouts imo

 

[alphafox]

Frankly, the teams that have the money to spend to the Cap. This is going to become a haves and have nots league relatively quickly unless revenue sharing changes. No way that Canadian and small market teams manage this without taking a hit to game attendance due to price increases.