Looking like another season for the Canadiens with lots of salary cap space
Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette: The Montreal Canadiens didn’t spend close to the salary cap last season, and it’s looking like they will enter this season with over $8 million in salary cap space.
The Canadiens aren’t a “penny-pinching, bargain-basement team” that doesn’t want to spend. They’ve been a cap team before, and at times handed out contracts that were too big.
Last offseason the Canadiens tried to spend on Alexander Radulov and Andrei Markov, and this offseason they were interested in John Tavares and Paul Stastny. They tried to trade for Ryan O’Reilly and his contract.
Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin continues to say he’s looking to improve their team and he’ll be looking at teams that might be close to the salary cap. He’ll be watching the waiver as well.
Some think they should trade Shea Weber, but his health and salary make it unlikely.
There may not be many teams interested in Carey Price and his new deal that kicks in this year.
Re-sign Max Pacioretty should be a no-brainer but it’s looking like they will trade him. Fair market value should be a top-four defenseman or top-six forward but they are unlikely to get that now.
Brendan Kelly of the Montreal Gazette: Spending to the salary cap ceiling doesn’t guarantee that you make the playoffs. The Canadiens could spend an extra $8 million and have nothing to show for it.
Owner Geoff Molson says they want to win, but it’s not always good business to spend. Molson to Kelly a few weeks ago in an interview that involved part of the team’s finances.
“The primary thing is that the salary cap keeps growing and as a business, if you compare it to inflation, as the salary cap goes, you have to bring up your revenues to maintain your business,” said Molson. “We decided not to take a price increase this year and we did it purposely and we agreed it was the right thing to do for our fan base. So with that comes less revenue … while the salary cap increases.
“At a very high level, it’s a relatively simple business. It’s ticket sales, suite sales, sponsorship sales, television and retail. For me, the only thing that matters is winning. When you win, you get excited fans and they want to be there and they want to be part of it. So that’s what I focus on.”