An upcoming rule change for the new Collective Bargaining Agreement this fall could have an impact on the Los Angeles Kings roster sheet.
The new CBA that was agreed to between the NHL and the NHL Players Association this past year is going to specifically start going into effect on Sep. 16, according to PuckPedia.
When the new CBA kicks in this fall, players re-signing with their current team will be able to sign up to seven years instead of eight. And unrestricted free agents will be able to sign up to six years instead of seven.
Any future contract negotiations involving key pieces of the Kings' young core could have less flexibility than before with this new CBA.
Another limitation that teams will face is a restriction on signing bonuses and heavily front-loaded contracts. These changes can impact how teams have gotten creative with structuring contract deals.
In terms of the impact this has on the Kings, there might be fewer routes the front office can take to gain advantages in contract negotiations. These restrictions can place a greater emphasis on more traditional salary-cap management and limit some of the more creative contract structures teams have used in this past few years.
It seems like Holland and the Kings have already been preparing this offseason for the rule changes that are about to take place. In free agency this summer, the Kings signed proven veterans to lower risk contracts, like winger Mats Zuccarello and centers Scott Laughton and Erik Haula.
Recent reporting from Elliotte Friedman that pitched a theory that the Kings are preserving cap flexibility in case a superstar-type talent becomes available in the future becomes more interesting when viewed through the lens of the upcoming CBA changes this fall.
If preserving cap flexibility is part of Holland's long-term strategy with the Kings, the new CBA rules will only increase the value of this approach.
As contract structures and prices become more restrictive and trickier to navigate, maintaining more salary cap flexibility could be even more valuable for teams hoping to capitalize when top talents become available.
These rule changes won't immediately transform the Kings, but they could influence how Holland and the front office approach future contract negotiations and construction of the roster lineup. Given the franchise's emphasis on short term veteran additions this summer, the Kings could already be positioned to adapt to the league's new landscape financially.
Add us as a preferred source on Google