What will be the range of club payrolls?
The payroll range in 2005-06 will be $21.5 million at the lower limit and $39 million at the upper limit. A club’s payroll will include all salaries, signing bonuses and performance bonuses paid to players. Except in the case of bona fide long-term injury (injuries that sideline a player for a minimum of 24 days and 10 games) to one or more of a clubs players, team payrolls will never be permitted to be below the minimum or in excess of the maximum. Clubs at or near the upper limit that have players who incur a bona fide long-term injury will be entitled to replace up to the full value of the injured player’s NHL salary (even if such salary would result in the club’s team salary exceeding the upper limit). The “replacement salary” will not count against the club’s upper limit but will count against the league-wide players’ share. Upon return of the injured player, the team must come into immediate compliance with the requirements of the payroll range.
