In L.A., Helene Elliott reported the Kings "got the salary-cap relief they had sought" when the NHL and NHLPA "agreed Friday to let them replace the salary of suspended defenseman Slava Voynov by using the long-term injury exception" in the CBA. The team "will continue to pay Voynov, whose salary cap hit" is $4.167M. Voynov's suspension, which stems from an alleged domestic violence incident in October, "will continue indefinitely." Kings GM Dean Lombardi "had been unhappy that his club was left in limbo during Voynov's suspension, a sanction the Kings have not disputed" (L.A. TIMES, 11/22).
GO FISH: In S.F., Ross McKeon noted the Sharks "did not sell out their 17,562-seat SAP Center on Saturday night for a second time this season." Before Saturday and the team's Oct. 25 game against the Sabres, the "last time fans did not fill the Shark Tank on a Saturday at home was Dec. 10, 2005." The Sharks "went 107 consecutive home Saturday dates during the regular season between non-sellouts." The Sharks "have opened the current six-game homestand with non-capacity crowds of 17,331 on Thursday and 17,297 Saturday," against the Panthers and Coyotes, respectively. But it is the Saturday non-sellouts "that could signal more than a blip on the screen" (SFGATE.com, 11/23).
CAP IT ALL OFF: In Chicago, Mark Lazerus noted the Blackhawks have more than $65M "tied up in 15 players" in '15-16, leaving them "with maybe just a few million dollars to spend and at least six roster spots to fill." In addition, Blackhawks LW Brandon Saad and C Marcus Kruger are both "due significant raises as restricted free agents." What "seemed far-fetched four months ago" when C Jonathan Toews and RW Patrick Kane "signed their massive eight-year contract extensions now seems distinctly plausible, as fear spreads around the league that the cap might not rise much next season." For teams such as the Hawks, Bruins, Kings and Flyers, who "are all right up against the cap, it could prove calamitous." Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman "wouldn’t say if the cap uncertainty has or will affect negotiations with Saad and Kruger" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 11/21).
