So now that the debate about how large a percentage of the cap can be devoted to a goaltender has subsided in the wake of Igor Shesterkin’s extension, the question now is how large a percentage of the cap can a team devote to buyouts and be a legitimate Cup contender?
How does the figure, 16.8 percent, sound?
Because that’s the amount that Minnesota is carrying on the 2021 twin buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, a cool $14,743,590 of the $88 million cap. Nevertheless, under the direction of general manager Billy Guerin, who has been operating with between $4.744M and the current $14.744M under the ceiling for the last four seasons, the Wild have the fifth-best record in the NHL.
Marco Rossi celebrates his goal with his teammates Mats Zuccarello, Declan Chisholm and Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild against the Philadelphia Flyers during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on Dec. 14, 2024. NHLI via Getty ImagesNext year, by the way, the buyout penalties decrease to a combined $1,666,666. So that while every team in the league is anticipating a bump of at least $4.5M on the cap, the Wild will effectively gain approximately $17.5M.
