I don't think many are realizing this unfortunate truth, but the Rangers actually have to CLEAR cap space to get our favorite ELC rookies like Vitali Kravtsov or Morgan Barron playing time, because of their player bonuses. While player bonuses are all just "potential salary" meaning that they likely won't give out 100% of it, the front office needs to account for that money.
The performance bonus allotment is $6.1125 million. All spending above that budget counts toward the salary cap, but CapFriendly does not include it in the "Cap Hit" measurement.
Already, the Rangers lose $3.95 million, accounting for the grand total of performance bonuses for Laffy, Shesty, Kakko, Fox, Chytil, Lindgren, and Goat.
If you created a Rangers team for 2020-21 that included those 7 players, but the CapFriendly cap hit was over $77,550,000, you actually put the Rangers above the salary cap for this season.
Both Kravtsov and Barron have $850K player bonuses attached to their ELCs. So theoretically, both of their cap hits would be $1.75M if they were in the NHL. Chances are, that will be cutting it close with the salary cap ceiling, especially if (or, when) Strome and Lemieux are re-signed.
In one of my previous teams I created, I mentioned that the prime goals for the front office was to allocate salary cap for NEXT SEASON. Along with the impending RFAs for 2021, this is exactly why they have to do so. So forget about offer sheeting Anthony Cirelli.
So I know this will disappoint those who were looking forward to seeing our prospects this year, but you aren't completely out of luck. K'Andre Miller's player bonus is only $300K instead of $850K. He is the rookie that I can confidently envision playing many games with the Rangers this year.
For the most part I don't blame them, because many are just unaware that they actually made a team that went over the salary cap. I wish CapFriendly made that clearer
McDavid, Connor
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