The Canuck Way
Fansided

Vancouver Canucks: 3 Reasons Lower Salary Cap Helps

By David Joun

May 26, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly waits to present the Prince of Wales trophy to Pittsburgh Penguins after the Penguins defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning to win the Eastern Conference Championship in game seven of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won the game 2-1 and the Eastern Conference Championship four games to three. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
May 26, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly waits to present the Prince of Wales trophy to Pittsburgh Penguins after the Penguins defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning to win the Eastern Conference Championship in game seven of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won the game 2-1 and the Eastern Conference Championship four games to three. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
vancouver canucks
Dec 31, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Los Angeles Kings left wing Milan Lucic (17) controls the puck against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Los Angeles Kings won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

Vancouver’s Free Agency Just Got a Lot Easier

Steven Stamkos. Milan Lucic. Keith Yandle. Eric Staal. David Backes. Troy Brouwer. Loui Eriksson. Kyle Okposo. Kris Russell… the list of impact players available at this year’s free agency refuses to end.

The natural instinct would be to think that free agents could lower their asking price when they realize how tight some teams are to the upper limit and the projected cap is lower than originally thought.

Well folks, I wouldn’t bet a Steven Stamkos on it.

The lower salary cap does not mean that Milan Lucic and Keith Yandle now costs $11 million rather than $14 million. It just means that the $11 million will go towards only one of the two, both unyielding their asking prices.

From the Canucks perspective, this year’s free agency needs to bring in a top-six forward. That’s it. Just one player. Just one. What that means is that Vancouver can allow GM Jim Benning to commit to one player and win the bidding war instead of bidding for two and losing both.

Sure, the Canucks may want to bring in a physical middle-six forward, too. But when reports are that Lucic is expecting $36 million over six years, I think the Canucks wouldn’t be able to commit to anyone else after bidding for Lucic.

The Canuck Advantage: Hometown Discount

The Canucks, however, have an advantage in all this. If the Canucks are seeking more than just a Lucic, the table is set for it. The table is set so perfectly for it.

More from Canucks News

Second-line wingers Andrew Ladd and Troy Brouwer are willing to come back to where it all began for each of them: here, Vancouver. Add decent depth defenseman Jordie Benn to that mix if you will.

Not suggesting that the Canucks will be able to resign Sven Baertschi, sign Milan Lucic, and also spend to acquire the services of one of those two hometown wingers all in their $12 million projected cap space, but the stage is set for it to happen with a little trading here and there.

If the Canucks successfully offload the wingers who will become surplus when the free agents come, they can certainly pay one of Andrew Ladd or Troy Brouwer around $4 million per year.

Think $4 million isn’t the right market price for the two? Of course it’s not. But that’s why I call this the Canuck Advantage — the two will surely consider taking a hometown discount.

A hometown discount is in the heart and not the lowered salary cap.

Next: ADVANTAGE CANUCKS: Expediting the Youth Movement

Home/Canucks News