In a hard cap league, a player and his contract remain forever intertwined. Talent is always a welcome asset to have, but it’s impossible to view that talent in a vacuum without also taking into account the financial strain that said talent is placing on the team overall. In New Jersey, for example, Dougie Hamilton is producing at a level in line with what made him a top free agent last summer, but any evaluation of the Devils’ off-season addition has to factor in his $9 million cap hit.
In that very same vein, the Vegas Golden Knights’ roster boasts a wealth of talented stars, many of whom are being paid accordingly. Clearly, Vegas’ perennial playoff positioning reflects that its players are delivering, but it’s both fair and prudent to wonder about contract value on a team that is constantly tiptoeing around the upper reaches of the $81.5 salary cap, hasn’t returned to the Stanley Cup Final since its expansion season and now find the Pacific Division title slipping…
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