6 Potential NHL Cap Casualties Who Could Be Steals for Other Teams in 2024
Now that the NHL has officially set next season's salary cap at $88 million, teams can better prepare for next year.
For the teams that are already close to the $88 million limit, sacrifices may need to be made and that means other teams around the league who aren't as stressed by the upper limit can take advantage.
We usually love it when our favorite teams spend to win it all, but sometimes the spending gets a little haywire and results may vary. Sometimes, investments that seemed great at the time turn into headaches down the road.
We've identified six players from the six teams closest to the cap ceiling already who could be a difference-maker for another NHL team next season. We'll get into the reasons why these moves make sense in a financially senseless world.
All salaries and cap numbers are courtesy of the soon-to-be-shuttered Cap Friendly.
Trevor van Riemsdyk, Washington Capitals
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The Capitals will have $6.985 million in cap space heading into the offseason and perhaps that's why they're reportedly purchasing CapFriendly so they can avoid making public how close they are to the ceiling.
It's a 200 IQ play when you think about it, but they are going to need to get creative to ice a better team next season.
Their highest-paid players aren't going anywhere. Alex Ovechkin will be a Capital until he retires. Tom Wilson's seven-year, $45 million extension begins in 2024-2025 with a $6.5 million cap hit. Nicklas Bäckström's contract with a $9.5 million cap will enter its final year next year, and he'll likely wind up on LTIR if he doesn't return to action. That in itself will likely save Washington from any need to make a move.
If they want to free up room more organically, though, the one player who might be able to be had is defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk.
The right-hand shot has two years left on his deal and comes with a $3 million cap hit, but his contract is very palatable and he's been a solid player for Washington.
The chances of the Caps dealing the 32-year-old are quite low, but so are their options for other players who might be easy to deal to make room.
They'll be able to add players from AHL Hershey for their main roster, but it could get uncomfortable quickly if they need to add from the outside.
Scott Laughton, Philadelphia Flyers
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The Philadelphia Flyers are currently just over $830,000 in projected cap space for the offseason.
It doesn't take a financial guru to tell you that's not great for them, particularly when you consider that's accounting for 19 players.
They'll be able to save $6.25 million from Ryan Ellis going on LTIR, and they could save a bit more depending on what they do with Ryan Johansen and his $4 million cap hit.
Still, the Flyers are in a curious position where they're rebuilding but also close to being a playoff team. They probably should've been one this season but ran out of gas.
One way for them to make some room under the cap would be to trade Scott Laughton. He has a $3 million cap hit and two years left on his contract.
Teams in need of a physical forward who can win faceoffs and help kill penalties while getting some offense would be the targets to trade for him. He's also a high-character guy so he's the classic "good in the room" player.
There is a catch, though. Laughton's advanced numbers with Philadelphia this season were poor and considering he's more of a defensive player and played for a more defensive coach in John Tortorella, that's foreboding.
A change of scenery could make a difference, but dealing for him is a "buyer beware" situation given he's 30 years old and that's traditionally an age when players can come back to earth hard.
Tanner Jeannot, Tampa Bay Lightning
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By now we're all aware of the price the Tampa Bay Lightning paid to get Tanner Jeannot. They gave up five draft picks and a player to get him to help to make a run at the Stanley Cup. It was the ultimate in "going for it" trades and respect.
However, the Lightning are staring a cap crunch in the face. They've got just over $5.3 million in cap space and are keen to re-sign captain Steven Stamkos. Surely, they don't want to see him walk in free agency on July 1?
The best way to avoid having to make that kind of decision is to ensure there's space to sign him, and trading Jeannot and his $2.665 million cap hit can help to that end.
The 27-year-old is entering the final year of his contract, and the ideal asking price should be relatively low, all things considered. A mid-range draft pick to help Tampa Bay recoup what it gave up acquiring him in the first place would serve the team well.
Jeannot's cap hit isn't a huge amount of money, but with the way the Lightning are well-practiced at salary-cap gymnastics, freeing up $2.655 million is a big deal.
A team in need of a heavy player lower in its forward group would do well to have him patrolling the ice.
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Kyle Palmieri, New York Islanders
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A fun fact that might ruin your day: Kyle Palmieri is 33 years old.
The 2009 first-round pick is headed into the final year of his contract with a $5 million cap hit. He's coming off a 30-goal season which put him third on the New York Islanders behind Brock Nelson (34) and Bo Horvat (33).
We mention this because the Islanders have a little more than $6.5 million in cap space this summer for 17 players. Feasibly, they could add six more for $1 million each and be right near the very top and be good to go. But teams like to have some flexibility and with Palmieri in the final year of his contract and the Islanders' future looming without many high-end prospects, selling high isn't the worst idea.
Of course, Palmieri is from Long Island and just had his best season since 2015-2016 when he last had 30 goals and a career-high 57 points (he had 54 this season). Trading him after the Islanders just had a playoff season and hopes are high under coach Patrick Roy would basically be grounds for a mutiny among the fans.
Still, if the Islanders want to make things on the books a bit more breathable, making a trade is the quickest way to do it and Palmieri would potentially bring the best return among other candidates on the roster.
Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights
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It's not an official offseason until we look at the Vegas Golden Knights' salary-cap situation and wonder how they're going to figure things out once again.
They are projected to have around $1.2 million in cap space to start the offseason and that accounts for 20 players.
They will have Robin Lehner and his $5 million cap hit as a potential LTIR saving grace and don't think they won't use that if it comes down to it. And they may need to when you consider they have Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Marchessault, William Carrier and Alec Martinez as potential unrestricted free agents.
Retaining all three will be close to impossible, particularly when Marchessault figures to land an expensive long-term contract. After they traded for and extended defenseman Noah Hanifin this season, that tightened things up financially in a big way.
Freeing up money is something they've become very good at, and if they wanted to cash in on adding futures while remaining a Stanley Cup contender, dealing defenseman Shea Theodore would do it.
The 28-year-old is in the final year of his contract that has a $5.2 million cap hit, and he's an outstanding defenseman who would help shore up any team's top-four on the blue line. Whether it's picks or cost-controlled younger players, we know Vegas is always all-ears to make moves.
Of course, the Golden Knights are already really good at keeping everyone they want and figuring out how to dance around under the cap to do it. They've done it in the past, but this summer is going to put general manager Kelly McCrimmon to the test.
Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild
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The Minnesota Wild are in salary-cap purgatory for one more year thanks to the buyouts of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise. They're eating a $14.7 million dead cap hit this season, and they'll see that number go down to $1.6 million for four more years after that. That's the good news.
The bad news is they've got about $6.2 million in cap space for this offseason, which accounts for 19 players. Fortunately, all of their key players are accounted for, and they don't necessarily need to make any moves. But they've got a fascinating situation going on with goaltending.
Filip Gustavsson is their young star with a bright future and Marc-André Fleury is a legend whose career will end whenever he says it's over.
Gustavsson, 26, had a down year this season, particularly when compared to his breakout a year ago. Fleury, 39, also had a down season from a year ago, which indicates there were bigger problems elsewhere on the ice.
The Wild also have a wunderkind netminder on the way up in Jesper Wallstedt. He's been very good in the AHL with Iowa the past two years and is waiting in the wings for his chance to take over the NHL.
Considering the 21-year-old was their first-round pick in 2021, he's probably not going anywhere. Gustavsson, for as good as he was last year, isn't home-grown by the Wild and was acquired from Ottawa for Cam Talbot.
If the Wild want to free up a potential log jam and $3.75 million in cap space while also netting a big return in a trade, dealing Gustavsson to a goalie-hungry team would get it done.
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