How is the stagnant salary cap going to affect free agency?
It’s going to make things very unpredictable. Also, it likely means players aren’t going to be able to get the massive contracts that they want. This could lead to players opting for shorter deals, in hopes that the salary cap starts rising again.
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For example, before this season, Taylor Hall was penciled in to get seven years and at least $77 million in free agency. But with the salary cap ceiling staying at $81 million, very few teams are able to offer him that without clearing out significant cap space. Maybe Hall decides to take a one-year deal somewhere and chase a Stanley Cup like Marian Hossa did when he signed with the Detroit Red Wings?
I could see Alex Pietrangelo doing something similar. Except he’ll be staying with the St. Louis Blues. Until Pietrangelo signs somewhere else, I’m not going to believe he’s leaving St. Louis. But if Pietrangelo leaves, I could see him going to another contender or maybe the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Usually, the start of free agency is when teams toss money at players and overpay them. However, a stagnant salary cap is going to make it next to impossible for most teams to do that. Maybe that’s a good thing!