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.
Next 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.