Gary Bettman grants another big favor for the Vegas Golden Knights: Is Carey Price next?
For several seasons, the Vegas Golden Knights have been good at finding loopholes in the collective bargaining agreement, especially regarding the salary cap.
We only have to think about the numerous times the team added a star player during the playoffs, following a miraculous recovery, to realize that they are very skilled at circumventing the rules.
Once again, it seems the Knights will benefit from a major advantage on the cap, courtesy of the NHL this time. This will bring to a close, once and for all, the saga that has been ongoing for a few years concerning Robin Lehner.
Indeed, the goaltender has not played a game in over two years, and even though he is still under contract with the organization, he did not show up for the team's physical tests. The league has therefore reached an agreement with the NHLPA.
A great favor granted to the Vegas Golden Knights by Gary Bettman
This agreement stipulates that the Knights will pay the goalie's salary, but his salary will not be counted against the team's salary cap. A nice savings of $5M for GM Kelly McCrimmon
This agreement between the NHL and the NHLPA creates a huge precedent.
It could even give Kent Hughes and the Canadiens' management an idea to use this strategy in Carey Price's case.
This is the thought that Jason Gregor had following the announcement of the news.
Even though the situation is similar, it's also quite different in a way. Unlike Price, who stopped playing due to physical problems, Lehner was dealing with mental health issues. The comparison between the two is hard to make, even though, in the end, both are not playing in the final years of their contracts.
Nevertheless, the league has made a decision that, once again, favors the Vegas franchise. It is clear that this issue will be raised either in a governor's meeting or in the next collective bargaining negotiations.
