Blue Jackets could be granted salary cap exception by commissioner Gary Bettman

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Cameron Brown
September 3, 2024 (11:49)

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The Columbus Blue Jackets may be granted a salary cap exception by the NHL after the death of Johnny Gaudreau.

The NHL's salary cap floor next season is $65 million, and the Blue Jackets are not expected to reach that dollar amount with the current contracts they have, but with Gaudreau's contract off the books after his tragic death, Gary Bettman has a chance to do something very unprecedented.

There are rules and regulations in place that prevent teams from bending the salary cap rules, but this is an anomaly, something that has scarcely occurred in the salary cap era.

So should Bettman grant the Blue Jackets an exception to the salary cap floor rule? It would seem quite unfair to penalize Columbus for a freak accident that was far beyond their control, but it is still unclear if this circumstance would invoke a clause that would allow the Blue Jackets to not reach the cap floor.

Journalist Kate Haines of The Hockey News has said that the NHL will need a find a way to manage such an unprecedented situation.

«The NBA has a habit of granting exceptions in similar situations, such as the injury exception, which allows teams to replace players who are out for the season due to a serious injury or death.

Given the unique and tragic nature of this situation, the NHL should consider a similar exemption for the Blue Jackets, at least for the 2024-2025 season.» - The Hockey News

The Blue Jackets are projected to have just over $62.3 million tied up in salaries next season, which is $2.7 million under the cap floor for next season.

Will Bettman make an exception to the rule, or will the Jackets have to find an additional $2.7 million in salaries for next season? Only time will tell.

Source: Habs Fanatics
Gary Bettman could grant a major special permission to the Jackets after the death of Johnny Gaudreau