How is this allowed and not more talked about? Please explain!

I saw in the free agency thread how several members praised the Tampa GM for being able to once again get their players to accept lower salaries than they would get from other teams. This time it was Victor Hedman who have accepted a new contract with a cap hit of ”just” $8MM, before him both Stamkos and Kusherov have done the same = taken less money to stay in Tampa.

But the ”problem” is that they simply haven’t! Those players actually get more money in the pocket accepting way less in Tampa compared to what they would get in for example LA.

I seriously don’t understand how the other teams, like Kings, can accept this injustice and advantage that Tampa (and other teams like Florida and Vegas) get when their players don’t have to pay state income taxes!?!?

Of course their GM can make ”great” deals with his players when their offer of $8MM is better and gives them more money than other teams offers of $10MM!

And this is just for one player. If you take the whole team into consideration it gets even more unfair! A Kings salary cap at $85MM is basically the same as a $100MM salary cap for Tampa! That’s two great players that Tampa gets ”for free” compared to what Kings can pay. Talk about having a HUGE advantage in the hunt for a Stanley Cup!!

What’s the point with a salary cap if it’s like this? Can someone please explain?

Here is an article that better explains what I mean:
Tax tricks: How an $8.5M Lightning contract keeping Steven Stamkos in Tampa is better than $10.5M to leave
I always thought that a salary cap should be adjusted to each state a team plays in. Something like if your paying let's say 15% in one state, the cap for those teams increases to make it fair and even across the board. To have the cap for all 32 teams the same and punish teams for living in Canada or California is wrong, in my opinion
Obviously I dont all the tax rates,but that was just an example.
 
Great article on The Athletic this morning about the no state taxes advantage. Why the NHL won't fix the 'no-tax states' issue any time soon: Duhatschek notebook

FWIW, I 100% agree with the anonymous exec that all the lousy GMs are using taxes as a smokescreen for their mediocre performances. Tampa built its team through the draft, Vegas fleeced everyone in the expansion draft, and Florida did an amazing job of trading and rehabbing failed players like OEL.

Out of the three, I'll give Florida full props. But not Tampa or Vegas. Tampa most likely wouldn't be so good for so long without this advantage, and Vegas most likely doesn't win the Cup (given the fact that they did so not just with tax advantage, but also exploiting LTIR loophole).

Do their GMs not get credit? They sure do. But saying they did not have unfair advantage is...well, unfair to those who have to operate without such advantage.
 
I always thought that a salary cap should be adjusted to each state a team plays in. Something like if your paying let's say 15% in one state, the cap for those teams increases to make it fair and even across the board. To have the cap for all 32 teams the same and punish teams for living in Canada or California is wrong, in my opinion
Obviously I dont all the tax rates,but that was just an example.
That would be fine if those legislatures wouldn't immediately realize that was a potential money grab for them. The NHL would be even more daft than the department of player safety to tie their revenue stream to the possibility of outside control of individual state legislatures.

The best solution for any team to attract UFA players, keep all star players, or otherwise stay on top of the mountain is simply two words "Git Gud". If you were to devise a method to level the playing field, the mission would only be accomplished if and only if the results of every season were completely random. Is that what you're asking for? Cuz if that's what you're asking for you might as well root for a lotto number, you'll probably be as satisfied with the outcomes.
 
I know this, lol, peeps have said that a team like the Kings should have an advantage attracting Free Agents because the area is exciting, close to the beach, has a lot of things to do, and so on.

But that never seems to be the case. :crying:
 
I know this, lol, peeps have said that a team like the Kings should have an advantage attracting Free Agents because the area is exciting, close to the beach, has a lot of things to do, and so on.

But that never seems to be the case. :crying:

I really thought after 2012-14 we would be a popular destination for big name free agents.

So weird how all that unfolded with Richards and Voynov melting down.
Think theres alot more to it than that now, taxes and politics being big detractors . That's why they usually have to overpay to get some here , especially if they have multiple options elsewhere.
 
Think theres alot more to it than that now, taxes and politics being big detractors . That's why they usually have to overpay to get some here , especially if they have multiple options elsewhere.
I’ve lived here all my life. I recently bought another home in a southern state. When people ask where are you from, I remember in the past I would proudly say California. Now when people ask, I hesitate to say and have to put in a disclaimer that we are not bringing CA politics into their state, and we are leaving due to them and the taxes. I can imagine what these UFA hockey players are contemplating when they are choosing another team to play for. It’s now even more of a business decision for them as well as a family decision.
 
Think theres alot more to it than that now, taxes and politics being big detractors . That's why they usually have to overpay to get some here , especially if they have multiple options elsewhere.
I agree but I also think if an Organization is top tier with a good system in place that consistently competes for the Cup - players will come. Look at Edmonton, for instance, as being a top UFA destination as of late. Financially speaking there are much better cities to reside in, weather isn't the best yet players are flocking there in an attempt to win the Cup.

LA has high taxes, but phenomenal weather. Players may or may not love the politics in CA (we know Luc is a huge fan), but ultimately the Kings have failed to build a successful organization over the past several years. Instead we have an Organization that lacks direction, seems to value revenue over winning, and has too many chefs in the kitchen.

LA overpays because players do not see them as a contender, or possibly even borderline contender at this moment. Find some success and that changes despite taxes, politics, or horrible travel schedule.
 
Great points. I've felt that management is an issue. I've felt a house cleaning has been in order for awhile. I think they need to bring in a fresh group that will bring in a new direction and more of a current philosophy. This team to needs to be revitalized and as long as Luc is here it will just be same old same old just with a different face.
 
I saw in the free agency thread how several members praised the Tampa GM for being able to once again get their players to accept lower salaries than they would get from other teams. This time it was Victor Hedman who have accepted a new contract with a cap hit of ”just” $8MM, before him both Stamkos and Kusherov have done the same = taken less money to stay in Tampa.

But the ”problem” is that they simply haven’t! Those players actually get more money in the pocket accepting way less in Tampa compared to what they would get in for example LA.

I seriously don’t understand how the other teams, like Kings, can accept this injustice and advantage that Tampa (and other teams like Florida and Vegas) get when their players don’t have to pay state income taxes!?!?

Of course their GM can make ”great” deals with his players when their offer of $8MM is better and gives them more money than other teams offers of $10MM!

And this is just for one player. If you take the whole team into consideration it gets even more unfair! A Kings salary cap at $85MM is basically the same as a $100MM salary cap for Tampa! That’s two great players that Tampa gets ”for free” compared to what Kings can pay. Talk about having a HUGE advantage in the hunt for a Stanley Cup!!

What’s the point with a salary cap if it’s like this? Can someone please explain?

Here is an article that better explains what I mean:
Tax tricks: How an $8.5M Lightning contract keeping Steven Stamkos in Tampa is better than $10.5M to leave

Every single NHL team from Canada says “how’s it goin, eh”
 
I’ve lived here all my life. I recently bought another home in a southern state. When people ask where are you from, I remember in the past I would proudly say California. Now when people ask, I hesitate to say and have to put in a disclaimer that we are not bringing CA politics into their state, and we are leaving due to them and the taxes. I can imagine what these UFA hockey players are contemplating when they are choosing another team to play for. It’s now even more of a business decision for them as well as a family decision.
I live in a Southern state, and when asked were I'm from I say "Los Angeles". I avoid the California word completely. But I'm able to play up my biases against Northern California, for example, so I'm not seemingly all that bad. lol
 
I know this, lol, peeps have said that a team like the Kings should have an advantage attracting Free Agents because the area is exciting, close to the beach, has a lot of things to do, and so on.

But that never seems to be the case. :crying:
What .......... Roenick, Kovalchuk, Phaneuf, Lucic, PLD, etc. weren't good enough for you? :think:
 
maybe some one can help .. the players only get the tax break for home games .. and games in other states/provinces have to pay that tax rate?
 
maybe some one can help .. the players only get the tax break for home games .. and games in other states/provinces have to pay that tax rate?

Screenshot 2024-07-25 at 11.56.55 AM.png


It gets a little more complicated than this, but this is a simplified explanation.

Here is an article if Forbes about it: Forbes Article
 
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Yep. So only 1/2 the games are at the zero tax rate for the FL players.
Actually more than that, since they also pay zero taxes when they play away against the other non income tax teams making it almost 60% of the games in total.

No it’s not all of the games, but still a huge advantage and given these teams track record the last years that’s a fact and not an opinion.
 
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