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

[alphafox]

I was with you until the end. In 2023 the 2 highest revenue teams were the Oilers and Leafs, and the only Canadian teams in the bottom 10 are the Senators and Jets. It has nothing to do with Canadian vs American. It’s big market vs small market

Fair enough, I assumed that the inflationary pressures would squeezed Canadian fans and franchises and make it harder to raise revenue than south of the border, which in addition to the general disadvantages they face vs American franchises is a heck of a spot to be in.

 

[kerrabria]

Completely disagree. Florida and Ottawa are too small of market. They might struggle to spend to the cap. The Panthers made it to the Cup finals and were still 6th last in revenue in 2023. If their revenue doesn’t see a big jump, it might be tough to spend ~113 million on salaries when your total revenue is ~160 million.

Among NHL metro areas, South Florida is in the Top 10 for population, TV market size, economic activity, Fortune 500 companies, and overall growth.
You can't even make the weak "not a hockey market, too many other things to do" argument anymore. Canadian fans can't even afford to go to games anymore--as the cap rises, ticket prices continue to rise, and the USD/CAD disparity grows, that's where market problems will occur.

 

[WarriorofTime]

As long as their players don't decline early and they spend to the cap, it's Florida for sure. Now through 2030, they look great.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Among NHL metro areas, South Florida is in the Top 10 for population, TV market size, economic activity, Fortune 500 companies, and overall growth.
You can't even make the weak "not a hockey market, too many other things to do" argument anymore. Canadian fans can't even afford to go to games anymore--as the cap rises, ticket prices continue to rise, and the USD/CAD disparity grows, that's where market problems will occur.

Well it’s only recent for Florida showing up for games, for a couple of decades they were a meme for attendance. It was embarrassing to see on TV.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Not for Toronto! Matthews up in, what, 2-3 years, and now Marners going go be wanting 14 mil. Nylander must be feeling a bit bummed out (but not as much as MacKinnon I guess)

The higher the cap rises in short periods will never be a bad thing for Toronto. The number of teams that spend to the cap will decline, while Toronto will always spend as much as possible.

 

[Ratsreign]

Well it’s only recent for Florida showing up for games, for a couple of decades they were a meme for attendance. It was embarrassing to see on TV.

Especially when the sections right behind the players’ benches were (are) higher priced Club seats. Across the rink was always much more full.

 

[KJ Dangler]

Laughable Columbus isn’t being consistently named .. it’s ok guys we will keep our head down , work hard until we can’t be ignored

 

[kerrabria]

Laughable Columbus isn’t being consistently named .. it’s ok guys we will keep our head down , work hard until we can’t be ignored

I mean, with all due respect, you guys don't have core players signed long term. By the time Werenski, Marchenko, Johnson, an Fantilli need new contracts, they'll sign for market rate given the new cap. Unlike Ottawa and Florida, whose best players are already locked in through the rest of the decade.