The NHL openly admits they'll try and screw the Oilers if Duncan Keith retires

PUBLICATION

Joshua Deeds
June 15, 2022 (10:27)

SHARE THIS STORY

Duncan Keith may be retiring at the end of the season, as the Edmonton Oilers have asked the defenseman to clarify his status, by July 1st.

However, with this comes the penalty of recapture which realistically, the Oilers should benefit from. But according to Bob Staufer of OilersNow, the position has changed that teams shouldn't receive the benefit of recapture, i.e. the Oilers.

Further to @Bob_Stauffer on @OilersNow today, also heard that NHL's current position is that teams should not receive recapture cap credit/benefit, even though calc. is outlined in '13 CBA Section 50.5.d.ii.

There would likely be a discussion b/w team & NHL if Keith retired

This means, that the NHL and NHLPA are again going to be at odds, as not only are they not following the CBA, but they're making the players pay into escrow through no fault of their own.

Where exactly IS the NHLPA to protect them against the avarice of Gary Bettman and the Board of Governors?

Blackhawks would have $7.5M of recapture cap hit, allocated as $5.5M in 22-23 & $2M in 23-24

So it looks like, Davidson has a choice of retaining, which in a rebuild is ultimately a non-starter and the Oilers will likely end up with a $5.5 million penalty if nothing is done because the NHL said so.

In the case of Keith, not only would they have the $5.5-million cap hit come off the books, they would be the benefactors of $3.4.-million in cap recapture relief. This is due to the contract structure of Keith's deal, which was a heavily front-loaded deal.

Ken Holland is doing his best to load Edmonton with the worst contracts and Bettman is there to execute cap flexibility.