The NHL Column: Salary Cap/Floor System Works For Teams, Fans

by Christopher Botta

Filed under: Predators, Thrashers, NHL Economics

The Collective Bargaining Agreement between NHL club owners and the Players Association is far from a perfect document, as you know. Any time you draw up an agreement under duress -- like, say the cancellation of an entire major league season -- there are bound to be holes. But let's get something straight: the salary cap, with his requisite "ceiling" and "floor" has its merits. Change the numbers all you want based on revenue. Change the numbers all you want when the next CBA is negotiated in 2012. The standard premise of competitive balance should remain the same.

At a time when the San Diego Padres decide they have to trade a developing star in Adrian Gonzalez to the Boston Red Sox, the Nashville Predators are flourishing behind a true team concept in the Western Conference. At a time when the Kansas City Royals decide they must trade Zack Greinke before it becomes impossible to re-sign him, the Atlanta Thrashers are winning games with style and flash and could lock down a playoff berth in the East.

 

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