from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet,

As we close in on the trade deadline, one of the concerns NHL teams have with their planning is what exactly are we looking at for a cap next season? At all-star weekend, commissioner Gary Bettman provided a couple of estimates in the $72-million range, providing the Canadian dollar stays around 80 cents.

Bettman’s predictions also depend on the players voting to use their “escalator,” which they have done every time they’ve been eligible to do so, with one exception. (The escalator allows a five percent raise to the ceiling.) Trouble is, teams are wondering if this summer will be the second time the NHLPA votes against doing so. That wouldn’t be a squeeze, but a full-on anaconda-style choke.

The players sent a shot across the bow in 2014, when they did not allow the NHL to put the full value of the new television money towards this year’s limit, as is allowed under CBA rules. There was much arm-twisting to get $1 million of that total applied, which put the cap at its current $69 million. Just think how tight things would be if that money was not in the system.

According to several sources, numerous players complained to the NHLPA about escrow during its fall tour this season, and that grumbling will only get louder now that 16 percent of their paycheque is being held back.

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