Blue Jackets won't need to hit salary floor by start of season
The NHL and NHLPA have agreed to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a grace period and some assistance in reaching the salary cap floor given their tragic circumstances.
The league and the players' union struck a deal before the Board of Governors meetings Tuesday, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.
"Both sides are looking at it as a fairly good resolution," Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said.
The agreement ensures the Blue Jackets won't have to spend to the cap floor by Oct. 7, the deadline for all other teams to do so. It also allows the Jackets to count the $2 million signing bonus they paid the late Johnny Gaudreau this summer toward their cap figure.
This season's floor is $65 million. The Blue Jackets' projected cap hit at the moment is $64,426,666, with 21 of 23 roster spots accounted for, per PuckPedia.
"If needed, and only to the extent necessary, Columbus will also be provided with a reasonable amount of additional time following the opening of the regular season (as determined by the NHL and NHLPA) to come into full compliance with its CBA obligation to establish a roster and payroll exceeding the lower limit of the team payroll range for the 2024/25 league year," an NHL statement read, according to LeBrun.
Daly told The Athletic's Aaron Portzline earlier Tuesday that the agreement didn't require the board's approval.
Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed by a suspected drunk driver while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey on Aug. 29.