from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet,

A lot of debate about the cap after The New York Post’s Larry Brooks reported it may not go up. The league usually gives a preliminary estimate at the December Board of Governors meeting. Right now, it depends who you talk to. Some teams are pessimistic, while others are cautiously optimistic they’ll end up in the low 70s.

The biggest variable is the Canadian dollar, but, there are teams saying that, for the first time, they are uncertain what the NHLPA will do. Only once (2006) has the union failed to use its annual option that raises the salary cap by five per cent. The CBA also allowed for the new Rogers TV money to be applied in advance, but the players decided only half could be used, putting the ceiling at $69M, not $70M. How many teams needed that extra million?

Why only half? The players feel they are losing too much to escrow. That’s also why the NHLPA refuses to budge on cap relief for Slava Voynov while he is being paid; it doesn’t want that replacement counting against its 50 per cent. The league wants nothing outside the system, hence the stalemate. So, if you’re a team, you’re wondering, “Are the players worried enough about escrow that they won’t use all options to raise the cap? I’m not sure right now, but I’d better have a plan in case the answer is yes.”

much more including Vegas talk...