One of the things that seem to constantly be holding the Leafs back is an absence of cap space to improve the team through free agency and trades. Kyle Dubas not being able to predict a global pandemic and signing a core to significant contracts right before was unfortunate and while no one can blame Dubas for not seeing COVID coming, there’s something to be said for signing deals that are reliant on the salary cap moving in favourable manner.
Now that I’ve said that, the cap is going up again, so all the Leafs problems are solved, right?
Via the 32 Thoughts Podcast NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly suggested that the salary cap could spike as early as the 2024-25 season:
I’ve seen some preliminary estimates recently which would make me more optimistic on the cap going up sooner whether that’s in two seasons or three seasons, I think it’s more likely than not two seasons rather than three.
Honestly, this seems like a reasonable expectation given the absolute flurry of gambling money being thrown at the league at the moment. Gambling plus the introduction of jersey ads, the U.S. television deals, and the addition of the 32nd team to the league should have the NHL exceeding their performance of the pre-COVID seasons, and with all due respect to angry people, that income will more than offset the Coyotes going from 11,000 people in attendance to 5,000.
If you are worried that it w …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation