The New York Rangers have considerable financial flexibility going into a crucial summer of decisions. What’s the ideal allocation of cap space per position group?
In the last 20 years, the professional sports world has drastically shifted. Gone are the days of old school lifers of the sport that give scouting reports based on traits and potential, in their place a world of math majors from ivy league schools. Ultimately, the salary cap sports come down to maximizing value as much as possible. Where should the New York Rangers’ space go?
When it comes to doling out contracts, the most important factor to consider is the value over the life of the deal. A team really cannot afford to pay a player based on past performance out of inherent loyalty because of the way the market changes. Across hockey, football and basketball, a common strategy is developing around younger and cheaper talent.
With all three sports having restricted potential earnings for young players in the form of entry-level or rookie contracts, the talent is paid less than they’re worth. This, in turn, allows the organization to accumulate a significant chunk of the roster through the draft and focus on its needs in free agency.
As of now, the formula based on the 2018-2019 salary cap was roughly $50 million in forwards, $20 million in defenseman and $10 on goaltending. Of course, every team fluctuates based on the talent it has and this is just a rough average. Let’s take a look at some examples.