Salary Cap Floor Should Not Pose Problems For Any Team In 2018-19
The purpose of the salary cap in the NHL is to maintain a sense of competitive balance across the league. That means both limiting how much a team can spend, the salary cap ceiling, but also ensuring that every team is competitive with a minimum expenditure, the salary cap floor. Some teams, generally those in smaller markets or undergoing rebuilds, tend to try to toe the line of the salary cap floor, paying as close to the minimum as possible for their roster. In years past, some teams have even struggled to hit that mark, taking on injured players or overpaying players in order to pass the floor. It’s unlikely that any of the 31 franchises will face that problem in 2018-19.
This season, with a corresponding jump in the salary cap ceiling, the floor moved to $58.8MM. With the bulk of unrestricted free agency accounted for, just three teams currently sit below that mark: the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, and Winnipeg Jets. However, both the Rangers and Jets can immediately be crossed off as a salary floor concern. The pair are perhaps the two teams with the most potential salary tied up in salary arbitration this off-season.
The Jets currently have the lowest projected payroll in the league, with a 16-man roster that accounts for approximately $52.7MM. However, Winnipeg’s list of restricted free agents who have filed for arbitration include Vezina candidate Connor Hellebuyck, defenseman Jacob Trouba, and forwards Adam Lowry, Chris Tanev, and Marko Dano, as well as defenseman Tucker Poolman who did not file. Those six players could easily combine for more than $20MM in combined salary when all is said and done, putting the Jets well clear of the floor and closer to the ceiling. Defenseman Josh Morrissey, who is not arbitration eligible also needs a new contract. Winnipeg is far from a floor concern.
In New York, the Rangers sit at $55.8MM in projected cap committed to 16 players, just $3MM shy of the floor. They also need to re-sign a majority of their young core, with forwards Kevin Hayes, Ryan Spooner, and Jimmy Vesey and defenseman Brady Skjei having filed for arbitration. The Rangers could pass the floor by extending just one of those players, nevertheless all four. New deals for those three forwards still leaves New York one or two shy of a full roster as well, meaning more salary will come into the fold via promotion or an additional acquisition.
As for the Devils, New Jersey is already close to the floor at a projected $56.4MM for 19 players. Forwards Blake Coleman and Stefan Noesen have filed for arbitration and the deals for both could be enough to push the Devils to where they need to be. Even if it doesn’t, the team will still need to sign non-arbitration eligible RFA’s Miles Wood and Steve Santini, whose deals should definitely be enough. New Jersey will likely be a team that hovers close to the floor next season; that didn’t stop them from making the playoffs in 2017-18, though.
Perhaps the only team who should be legitimately concerned about the salary cap floor next season in Ottawa. The Senators and owner Eugene Melnyk have made it no secret that they are trying to shed salary and come in as close to the minimum as possible. Right now, the team sits just $3MM above the floor at a projected $61.8MM roster for 20 players. However, that isn’t including the arbitration resolutions for both defenseman Cody Ceci and forward Mark Stone. Those two deals will put Ottawa well above the floor. Even if the team was to trade star defenseman Erik Karlsson, they should remain above the floor, especially with additional salaries likely to be added in the trade return. The one scenario in which Melnyk could succeed in dropping significant salary would be if both Karlsson and Bobby Ryan were to be traded away. The resulting $13.75MM loss in payable salary would more than offset the contracts for Stone and Ceci and likely the contracts of those players coming back as well, potentially dropping the team below $58.8MM. Yet, even in that case, the Senators’ efforts to fill out their roster after losing Karlsson and Ryan – either by promotion or acquisition – could easily be used to get back to that mark.
The salary cap floor was never intended to be used as a target for teams to hover above and spend as little as possible. The goal of the NHL is have each and every team be competitive, not simply trying to maximize profits. As such, the 2018-19 season has some parity promise as seemingly no team will struggle to get over the floor or have to use contracts for the old and injured to get there. For the first time in years, every team seems set to be competitive and comfortably over the minimum cap hit.
All cap figures are courtesy of CapFriendly.com.
St. Louis Blues Expected To Sign Patrick Maroon
Monday: Despite a source telling Rutherford that Maroon would sign in St. Louis, several teams remain in the mix for the power winger. His agent, Ben Hankinson, told Rutherford last night that the Blues are a “strong option” while Andy Strickland of Fox Sports reports that the Arizona Coyotes and New Jersey Devils had shown interest. Lou Korac of NHL.com though has heard that a one-year deal worth $1.7MM with the Blues has been agreed to, and the two sides will negotiate an extension in January.
Sunday: Just two days ago, The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford reported that the St. Louis Blues were interested in local product and one of the top unsigned free agents, Patrick Maroon. Now, Rutherford has confirmed his speculation, writing that the big winger will indeed return home to St. Louis and sign with the Blues. Rutherford hears from a source that this is a done deal that could be announced as early as this afternoon, but no details on the salary or term agreed upon have been revealed as of yet.
Maroon, 30, is coming off a career year in which he recorded a career-high 43 points in 74 games split between the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils. In 2016-17, he also recorded a career-high 27 goals and was one of the team’s top scorers in the postseason. If Rick Nash is indeed set on retirement, or at least taking time off from hockey, Maroon was the top available player on PHR’s Top 50 Free Agents list at No. 12.
Despite rumors that Maroon was interested in a return to either Edmonton or New Jersey, the St. Louis native emerged early as a target of the Blues. However, St. Louis has been busy this off-season, signing David Perron, Tyler Bozak, and Chad Johnson, not to mention several of their own restricted free agents, and then trading for Ryan O’Reilly. Accounting for their official moves to date, the Blues have little more than $5MM in cap space and still need to sign RFA defensemen Joel Edmundson and Jordan Schmaltz to new contracts. As such, many felt that the pairing of Maroon and St. Louis was no longer feasible. Yet, Rutherford reports that the Blues put the “full-court press” on Maroon in recent days, including meeting with him in person and having several members of the team call and convince him to join. It seems that GM Doug Armstrong and the Blues’ front office have a plan for working around St. Louis’ cap crunch.
Maroon is currently rehabbing from off-season back surgery, but is expected to be at full strength for the start of the season. A healthy Maroon is a major boost for St. Louis, even after adding several other impact pieces up front. The 6’3″, 225-lb. forward plays a physical game and is strong on the puck, something that the Blues lacked at times last year. He also adds significantly to their depth at left wing and has a finishing ability that should pair well with many play-makers on the Blues’ offense. While the salary terms will further clarify just how good of a signing this is, it stands to reason that Maroon – who made only $2MM per year on his last contract – is not earning so much as to make the Blues’ salary cap situation irreparable, meaning that he could be a great value for the team moving forward.
Eric Gryba, John Ramage, Kurtis Gabriel Sign With New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils have signed Eric Gryba to a one-year, two-way contract that carries a $700K cap hit at the NHL level. Gryba was recently bought out by the Edmonton Oilers, and will receive a salary of $300K from them in each of the next two seasons. The team has also signed defenseman John Ramage and Kurtis Gabriel to one-year, two-way contracts worth $650K at the NHL level.
Anaheim Ducks Sign Swedish Forward Anton Rodin
The Ducks are importing some scoring help for the coming season. Sportsnet reports that Anaheim has signed Anton Rodin, a former Swedish Hockey League MVP and brief member of the Vancouver Canucks. Rodin finished the 2017-18 season with HC Davos of the Swiss NLA, but will now return to North America to join the Ducks. Contract terms are not yet available.
Rodin, a second-round pick back in 2009, has had trouble making his mark in the NHL. He came over to the U.S. for the 2011-12 season, but found himself playing in the AHL for next two seasons without a callup, prompting the Swede to return to the SHL, the next season, which is where he stayed for another three years. He returned to Vancouver and got into three NHL games, but spent most of his time with the Utica Comets before asking for his release in November of this season.
Michael Grabner Signs With Arizona Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes have added some speed to their forward group, signing Michael Grabner for three years at an average annual value of $3.35MM.
Arizona, who supposedly was aggressively pursuing James van Riemsdyk, settled for Grabner, who comes with a solid pricetag. Arizona, who had a solid second-half of the season last year is trying to build on their veteran players and adding a successful scoring sniper is a solid addition to their top-six lines. Unfortunately, Grabner is well known to be a streaky player as the veteran has posted a 34-goal season, along with a 27-goal and a 25-goal season, but has also put up nine and 12-goal seasons.
The 30-year-old has bounced around a lot (although he did have a five-year stint with the New York Islanders), but he has become a solid trade commodity. He signed a two-year deal with the Rangers in 2016 and after posting 27 goals in 2016-17 and 25 goals in just 59 games last year, he was a moved to the New Jersey Devils, where he managed to score just two goals in 21 games.
In Arizona, Grabner could find himself fighting for a spot on the team’s No. 1 line alongside former Rangers’ teammate Derek Stepan.
Eric Gryba Expected To Sign With New Jersey
Although he was bought out by the Oilers last month, defenseman Eric Gryba isn’t going to be out of a job for long. TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports (Twitter link) that the blueliner is close to signing with New Jersey. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The 30-year-old split last season between Edmonton and their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield. In 21 games with the Oilers, he picked up two assists along with 31 penalty minutes while averaging 14:44 per night. Meanwhile, in the minors, he was held off the scoresheet in 24 contests while spending 27 minutes in the penalty box.
Gryba, a veteran of 279 career NHL games between Ottawa and Edmonton, will likely battle for a spot at the back of New Jersey’s back end. If he fails to land a spot, he’d then likely served as a top call-up option when injuries strike during the season, similar to the role he had with the Oilers in 2017-18.
Devils Re-Sign Eddie Lack
New Jersey is keeping their goaltending depth intact heading into next season, announcing that they have re-signed Eddie Lack to a one-year, one-way contract worth $650K.
The 30-year-old started last season with Calgary after they acquired him from Carolina but he did not fare well. In four appearances with the Flames, he posted a 5.29 GAA with a .813 SV% that resulted in him being waived and clearing. In late December, he was dealt to the Devils in exchange for blueliner Dalton Prout, another veteran who had cleared waivers and was toiling in the minors.
Lack spent most of his time following the deal at the minor league level where he suited up in 16 games with their AHL affiliate in Binghamton. He did, however, get into four games with New Jersey where his numbers were much better than his stint with Calgary (3.19 GAA, .903 SV%). In his career, Lack has played in 143 NHL games between the Canucks, Hurricanes, Flames, and Devils, with a 2.62 GAA and a .909 SV%.
With Cory Schneider and Keith Kinkaid both already under contract for next season, it appears that the Devils envision Lack once again being their third-string netminder where he can continue to help mentor prospect Mackenzie Blackwood at the minor league level. However, with Schneider’s availability for the start of 2018-19 in question following hip surgery, Lack will also provide them with some insurance if he’s not ready to play right away.
Islanders Re-Sign Defenseman Seth Helgeson
The New York Islanders are certainly keeping busy as they wait for a decision from John Tavares. In the team’s second deal in under an hour, they have signed defenseman Seth Helgeson to a contract extension. According to TVA’s Renaud Lavoie, the deal nearly mirrors the one given to goaltender Christopher Gibson earlier today. It is a two-year, two-way contract that pays Helgeson the $650K minimum at the NHL level next season and $700K in the NHL in 2019-20, with a$250K salary in the AHL over both years.
Helgeson, 27, is coming off of his first season with the Islanders organization after signing as an unrestricted free agent last summer. Helgeson previously spent four seasons with the rival New Jersey Devils. A fourth-round pick of the Devils in 2009 and a four-year starter at the University of Minnesota, Helgeson entered the pros with high expectations of being a solid stay-at-home defenseman with room to grow. While his defensive game has always been steady, he has been underwhelming at the other aspects of the game. In both the AHL and NHL, Helgeson has struggled to produce points or move the puck and has gotten into frequent penalty trouble. In 50 NHL games – all with the Devils – Helgeson has just four points and a Corsi rating of 43.7%.
Last season, Helgeson failed to make an appearance with the Islanders and recorded one goal and eleven assists in 76 games with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He also recorded 137 penalty minutes, sixth-most in the league. At his best, the 6’4″, 220-lb. Helgeson is a big, heavy defensive presence who intimidates the opposition and plays a safe stay-at-home style. Often that can be the perfect type of stopgap emergency call-up player for NHL teams to stash in the minors. However, Helgeson’s play leaves a lot of upside to be desired and he will likely serve much of this two-year extension in Bridgeport.
Devils Hire Chuck Fletcher
- Former Wild GM Chuck Fletcher has joined the Devils as the team announced that he has been hired as a senior advisor to GM Ray Shero. This won’t be the first time the two work together as Fletcher was Shero’s assistant GM for three years with the Penguins from 2006-07 to 2008-09.
2018 CHL Import Draft Results
The CHL held its annual import draft today, where teams from across the Canadian junior leagues get to select the rights of players around the world. Often these are recently drafted prospects, or those seen to have good chances at next year’s draft. Being selected has no guarantee that the player will actually ever suit up for the team, as Filip Chytil proved last season. Chytil was selected seventh-overall by the North Bay Battalion, but ended up spending the year with the New York Rangers and Hartford Wolf Pack after impressing in his first training camp.
There are clear benefits from picking at the top of the draft though, as the Barrie Colts found out last season. Andrei Svechnikov was the first-overall selection, and ended up scoring 40 goals in 44 games before being the second-overall pick in the NHL draft last week. This year saw Slovakian-born Maxim Cajkovic go first to the Saint John Sea Dogs after tearing up the Swedish junior leagues last season. Cajkovic is eligible for the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Teams are only allowed a certain number of import players, which leads to some passing on their selections even in the early part of the draft. Check out last year’s draft to see some familiar names.
The full results are below:
Round 1
1. Saint John – Maxim Cajkovic (RW, Slovakia)
2. Edmonton – Vladimir Alistrov (LW, Belarus)
3. Sudbury – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (G, Finland/Buffalo Sabres)
4. Shawinigan – Valentin Nussbaumer (C, Switzerland)
5. Prince George – Matej Toman (LW, Czech Republic)