By Joce, Senior Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine

When the NHL and the NHLPA reached an agreement in time to save the season, they have agreed for the salary cap going down to $64.3M in time for the 2013-14 season, down from the $70.2M it was for the 2012-13 season. In order to help the top spenders to get under this new cap, both parties agreed to allow two amnesty buyouts per team over the next two years. While the players will receive their money and it will count on the revenue line, none of it will be tallied against the teams’ salary cap, unlike a regular buyout.

PENTICTON, BC. — We have already seen the Montreal Canadiens buy out Scott Gomez’ contract, which allowed him to sign a contract with the San Jose Sharks this winter, and the New York Rangers bought out the contract of Wade Redden, who played in the NHL for that reason this year. In both cases, we’re talking about players who were sent home and risked not playing hockey this year so the league and the NHLPA made an exception for them. This summer however, we risk seeing some pretty decent players’ contracts being bought out, guys who are still good hockey players but whose production doesn’t match their contracts and with teams trying to squeeze in under the new salary cap, it will make for some very interesting decisions.

Without further adieu, let’s have a look at the top 10 spenders for 2013-14, based on the players that they already have under contract, and at some of the challenges they are faced with.

1- PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
The Flyers are at $69.8M with 24 players on the roster, but that includes Chris Pronger’s $4.9M cap hit. What will they do with Ilya Bryzgalov whose contract runs until 2019-20 with a $5.7M cap hit? Bryzgalov has disappointed since signing that contract and he finished the season with a 19-17-3 record, with a 2.79 GAA and a sub-par .900 Sv%. Since being acquired by the Flyers from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Steve Mason has a 1.90 GAA and a surprising .944 Sv% in seven games with his new team.

2- VANCOUVER CANUCKS
The Canucks have 17 players under contract and they are right at the cap, at $64.2M. With two early exits in the playoffs, GM Mike Gillis chose to fire head coach Alain Vigneault but that’s not going to be enough. The Sedin twins will take 19% of the team’s cap next year with very little to show for when it comes to their playoffs’ performances. With no true number one defenseman, they have five guys making over $4M at the blue line and that’s where some changes could occur. Of course, all eyes will be on Roberto Luongo as he has shown signs of frustration after the trade deadline and it is unlikely that he’ll start another season in Vancouver. David Booth and Keith Ballard are prime candidates for a buyout.

3- CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
With 21 players under contract, the Blackhawks have $62.7M tied into the cap for next season. That does not include pending UFAs Viktor Stalberg and playoff hero Bryan Bickell, whose value keeps on rising every day. If the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup, does Jonathan Toews get another bonus as he did after the 2010 Cup win? That would have to count against the cap as well… It’s definitely a situation to be followed closely.

4- TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
After such a disappointing season, it’s hard to believe that the Lightning are so high on the list, with $61.9M committed into 18 players for next year. Like the Flyers and Pronger, that number does include Mattias Ohlund’s $3.6M contract however. There are no clear cut buyout candidates in this line-up so it will be most interesting to see what kind of moves team GM Steve Yzerman will try to pull off in order to improve a team which saw itself out of the playoffs once again. The Lightning holds the number three pick at this year’s NHL Draft. No, I don’t believe in the theory that Vincent Lecavalier’s contract could be bought out.

5- MONTREAL CANADIENS
The Habs sit fifth with $61.6M tied into 20 players for 2013-14 and that number does not include Scott Gomez’ contract, which will be bought out. Seeing how he wasn’t utilised late in the season and in the playoffs, it is very likely that GM Marc Bergevin will opt for his second amnesty buyout for defenseman Tomas Kaberle if he can’t trade him, freeing up another $4.25M under the cap. The Canadiens are in decent shape for next season but many around the NHL are expecting Bergevin to try to make some moves in the off-season, whether it’s at the draft, through free agency or with a trade or two. According to his agent, pending UFA Michael Ryder will not be offered a contract by the Canadiens.

6- BOSTON BRUINS
The Bruins are in decent shape for next year, with just over $60M committed to 18 players. There are no clear cut candidates for buyout, but Jaromir Jagr, Nathan Horton and Andrew Ference are all scheduled to become free agents without restrictions. The most interesting case for the Bruins will be the negotiation with RFA Tuukka Rask, who should receive a substantial raise next year and that could put the Bruins in a more delicate situation.

7- WASHINGTON CAPITALS
After yet another disappointing exit from the playoffs, the Capitals will have some decisions to make this summer. Sitting at $58.6M with 20 players under contract, they have three players who are pending UFAs: forwards Mike Ribeiro and Matt Hendricks, as well as defenseman Tom Poti, while fellow defenseman Karl Alzner and center Marcus Johansson are RFAs. Considering that the team seems to be in need of some change, it should be interesting to watch team GM George McPhee this summer.

8- CAROLINA HURRICANES
The Hurricanes are looking at improving after a disappointing season. Having just under $57M tied into 17 players, they might be tempted to buy out Tuomo Ruutu and his $4.75M contract, he who has spent more time on the injured list than in the line-up in the last two years. Chad Larose and Joe Corvo are the most important pending UFAs on the team, while Eric and Jordan’s little brother Jared Staal is a RFA this summer. Head coach Kirk Muller needs some help and a new set of jerseys won’t be enough.

9- PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
The Penguins went for it this year and they have failed, giving up a lot of the team’s future for a Cup run which was halted by the Boston Bruins. The team has $56.4M invested in 18 players next season. They have more prominent pending UFAs than any other team: Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow, Matt Cooke, Pascal Dupuis and rugged defenseman Douglas Murray, while Tyler Kennedy is a pending RFA. It seems clear that the team has lost faith in goaltender Marc-André Fleury who has two more years on his contract with a cap hit of $5M, and defenseman Paul Martin could be a buyout candidate if need be, he who also carries a $5M cap hit. Some tough decisions await team GM Ray Shero this summer as he gambled big at the trade deadline.

10- MINNESOTA WILD
The Wild made a big splash last summer when they gave over $15M annually in cap hit to UFAs Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, but it didn’t pay off as the team missed the playoffs. The Wild has $57.9M tied into 18 players for next year and that’s not counting pending UFA and starting goaltender Niklas Backstrom. Will team GM Chuck Fletcher be tempted to buy out Dany Heatley, who has one year left to his contract with a cap hit of $7.5M? Heatley finished the season with 21 points in 36 games, with one of the team’s worst differential of minus-12.

While this column shows teams that are closer to the cap, there are other players and teams which fans should pay a close attention to. Of course, there are several pending UFAs who should draw a lot of attention, although most are role players who can help teams at different levels. If a team is looking for a centerman with some offensive flair, Mike Ribeiro, Stephen Weiss and Derek Roy should get some attention. If they are looking at adding some size up front, Nathan Horton, Ryane Clowe, Dustin Penner and David Clarkson will be targeted by many teams. On defense, guys like Ron Hainsey, Marek Zidlicky, Ryan Whitney, Rob Scuderi, Douglas Murray and Andrew Ference (amongst others) will be receiving phone calls.

But don’t count out trades… there are many teams trying to move up at the draft this year and with teams trying to unload salary, it could make for an interesting time. What will the Rangers chose to do with Brad Richards? I have a feeling that they’ll give him one more season to redeem himself now that John Tortorella was fired but who knows? What are the Sabres going to do with disgruntled Ryan Miller? Would a trade with Pittsburgh for Fleury help both teams? With the new CBA, teams can keep up to two million dollars in cap hit when trading a player, something Brian Burke has been wanting for a long time. Burke, ironically, won’t be able to use his idea as he doesn’t have a team to manage at this time.

With the Stanley Cup finals coming up, with the amnesty buyouts window starting soon after the end of the playoffs, with the NHL Draft on June 30th, followed by the free agency, this promises to be an interesting summer of hockey, folks!

Source: Capgeek.com

En français: Plafond salarial – Décisions difficiles