AWESOME.

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 06/25/09 at 03:45 PM ET

Well it’s about time there was some type of news regarding the salary cap for next season. At least there is a ball park figure. Is it just me, or is it absolutely ridiculous that we’re heading into one of the busiest trade days of the NHL season (historically 2nd behind the Trade Deadline) and the GMs don’t know how much salary they can have on their roster for next season? At least if this report is accurate, GMs will have a rough idea on how much salary they can take on, or how much they have to clear.

Posted by PuckCentral.net from NJ on 06/25/09 at 04:08 PM ET

Is it just me, or is it absolutely ridiculous that we’re heading into one of the busiest trade days of the NHL season (historically 2nd behind the Trade Deadline) and the GMs don’t know how much salary they can have on their roster for next season?

It’s not just you. And, as much as I’d like to blame Bettman, it looks like this one is on the NHLPA if they haven’t decided until today.

As you pointed out, at least now teams can begin moving forward.

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 06/25/09 at 04:14 PM ET

What exactly does it means? Next season’s cap will be close to this year’s, within a 5% range, increased or decreased?

Posted by Gustavo Sales de Albuquerque from Brazil on 06/25/09 at 05:32 PM ET

Gustavo Sales de Albuquerque, basically the cap will remain with a few hundred thousand dollars, either above or below the cap ceiling from last season.

The official word number will probably be released tomorrow.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 06/25/09 at 05:34 PM ET

5% of $53,700,000 is $2,835,000 - so how is it only going to go up a few hundred thousand?

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/25/09 at 06:52 PM ET

I thought I was the only one who thought it strange that the cap number hadn’t been set yet.  Better late than never.

Posted by DigitalGypsy66 on 06/25/09 at 07:15 PM ET

5% of $53,700,000 is $2,835,000 - so how is it only going to go up a few hundred thousand?

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach

(I assume you mean $56.7M, not $53.7M.)

The five percent escalator isn’t added to the salary cap of the previous year. In short the salary cap procedure is this:

Midpoint = ("Player percentage of Prelimenary Hockey Related Revenues” - “Prelimenary Benefits")/30.

Then you add 5% to the “Midpoint” and get the “Adjusted Midpoint”. That is automatic as long as the revenues are below $2.1 Billion. Then:

Salary Cap ceiling = Adjusted Midpoint + $8M.
Salary Cap floor = Adjusted Midpoint - $8M.

But since the revenues exceed $2.1 Billion, the parties have to agree on the Midpoint adjustment. Brooks reported that the player representatives supported the adjustment. Otherwise they would have to sit down and find a compromise.

Since $54M + five percent equals $56.7M, and given the slight drop in revenues, it’s safe to say that the cap won’t go up. We’ll see it go down a few hundred thousand, but without the NHLPA escalator approval, it could have been as lov $53.5M. Fortunately, that won’t be the case.

Posted by Moq from Denmark on 06/25/09 at 07:31 PM ET

You are now the KK cap expert Moq.  Thanks again.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 06/25/09 at 07:36 PM ET

Sorry about the last paragraph, it’s poorly written and I should subtract the eight million before meddling with percentages. The conclusion still holds.

Posted by Moq from Denmark on 06/25/09 at 07:36 PM ET