EHM The Blue Line

I'm getting ready to sign a Russian player, but he may give me some cap issues. The 1st year of his contract would be for this current season, but he wouldn't join my team until the transfer window in June. It doesn't look like I would pay him anything right now, but, once he comes over to the NHL in June, would I owe him the full $450k that he would have earned if he had played this season on my team?

I'm right up against the cap this season, and, if he gets his full $450k when he joins my team in June, his contract would push me over the cap a month before free agency begins and I shed some other contracts.

Are you sure the extra $450k would push you over the salary cap? Remember, only the 23 most expensive contracts for your NHL team are counted against the cap. Seeing as $450k is the minimum wage for the NHL in the first season, the only way this would add to your cap figure is if you have less than 23 players under contract right now, which is unlikely seeing as you're midway through the season.

If it does add to your cap figure (because what I've said above turns out to be completely wrong), then going slightly over the cap isn't much of a problem as far as I can tell. I think you're allowed to go over the cap in the off-season anyway, as long as you bring it down again in time for the regular season. I wouldn't be certain on this last point because I've never actually gone over the cap but I'm sure someone else can confirm it/say otherwise.

Hope this helps .

I've never had the salary apply to my cap when the player comes over... and I'm usually jammed tight on the cap, so I'd notice for sure.

It does not apply in June. Period. Once regular season is over the cap does not change until the playoffs end. For instance you can call up everyone you have on your farm team and there are no changes to your cap figure. Dudes contract will not count until the season ends. Then you will see the figure change.

Good replies. Thanks.