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MLS and the salary cap
Is there really a salary cap? Messi-Suárez-Alba-Busquets; Is the limit of designated players three?
Robert Wistaff
Response from Jean-François Téotonio
The limit is indeed, still to this day, three designated players: at Inter Miami, the three are Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Leo Campana. CF Montreal only has one: Victor Wanyama. Miami used the various MLS mechanisms to ensure that the sum of these salaries complied with the league’s salary cap, which is US$5,470,000. In 2024, the maximum amount a club can pay a regular player is $683,750. From the moment his budgetary burden is greater than this amount, two options are available to clubs: convert him into a designated player and pay him the desired amount, or use “TAM” (targeted allocation money), the one of these mechanisms.
What do we mean by “budgetary burden”? This is the sum of the player’s annual salary and part of the transfer fee (the amount divided into contract years) that the club paid to acquire him. The whole constitutes the amount recorded on the team’s payroll annually, i.e. the budgetary charge. So, Jordi Alba is not a designated player. Neither does Luis Suárez. Both would be under contracts paid with TAM. Inter still had to make room on its squad to free up salary under the cap, notably letting go of Gregore and DeAndre Yedlin at the start of the season.
Now, has MLS been permissive on certain aspects of its rules so as not to hinder Miami’s prestigious acquisitions? We insinuate it here and there. Was she creative, including Apple TV and Adidas in the terms of her contract worth more than 20 million, to succeed in attracting Lionel Messi last year? Absolutely.
Ice time
Could you explain how we measure the playing time of each player in hockey during a match? And even sometimes during a presence?
JP Hotte
Response from Jean-François Téotonio
PHOTO JAYNE KAMIN-ONCEA, USA TODAY SPORTS, PROVIDED BY REUTERS
Year in and year out, Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty is among the leaders in playing time, with more than 25 minutes on average per game.
Each player wears a chip, sewn into their sweater, which tracks their movements. There are also sensors in the puck. Each NHL arena today has at least 14 cameras that detect the infrared signals these sensors emit. We’re talking about 60 signals per second sent by the puck sensors, and 15 per second for the chips in the jerseys. All this makes it possible to establish millions of data per match. Teams have had access to them since 2021, and these statistics are now publicly available on the NHL EDGE website since 2023.
Previously, this was calculated by NHL officials in person in amphitheatres. Today, with this new technology, only one person remains on duty to ensure that the sensors are reading correctly, and to correct them if necessary.
Trades after the deadline
In the NHL, after the trade deadline, are trades completely banned?
Jean Dufresne
Response from Simon-Olivier Lorange
PHOTO CHARLES LECLAIRE, USA TODAY SPORTS ARCHIVES
Arnaud Durandeau was acquired by the Canadiens after the trade deadline. He plays for the Laval Rocket, in the American league.
No, they continue to be permitted. The Canadian proved it by trading Nathan Légaré to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Arnaud Durandeau just a few days ago. Players can also be claimed on waivers. In fact, the full name of this infamous day should be “NHL Player Eligibility Transaction Deadline.” In fact, any player under contract traded after this date will not be able to play games, in the season or in the playoffs, in the NHL. In return, if the players are already in the minors (like Légaré and Durandeau), they will be able to play in the American League series.
Remove your goalie in overtime
A team recently pulled its goalie in overtime to hope to gain two points in the standings. However, I read that if this team conceded a goal in its empty net, it would not collect any points. What about it?
Michael Morier
Response from Simon-Olivier Lorange
PHOTO STACY BENGS, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
On March 10 against the Nashville Predators, Minnesota replaced Marc-André Fleury (29) after 3:30 in overtime to move to 4 against 3. Twenty seconds later, Matt Boldy gave the Wild the victory.
That’s right. Many of us learned about article 84.2 of the NHL rulebook when the Minnesota Wild pulled their goalie in overtime against the Nashville Predators on March 10. Indeed, if a team decides to do this, it will have no consolation points if it loses the match. There is, however, an exception if the goalkeeper has retired to the bench because a penalty was called and the attacking club accidentally scores in its own net.
Caufield, ace passer
Here we are, CH supporters, with ace scorer Cole Caufield becoming a passer. With the growing importance of advanced statistics in the NHL, shouldn’t there be a refinement in pass accounting to separate the skillful passes that led to gaping openings “and the goal!” » of those who contributed indirectly?
Jean-François L’Heureux
Response from Simon-Olivier Lorange
PHOTO CHARLES LECLAIRE, USA TODAY SPORTS ARCHIVES, PROVIDED BY REUTERS
Cole Caufield dominated the CH after 67 games this season with 13 primary assists at five-on-five.
To see it more clearly, there is, in the simplest terms, the statistic of primary assists, that is to say the last player to have touched the puck before a goal – and not both last. You’ll be happy to know that Caufield dominated CH after 67 games this season with 13 of those assists at five-on-five. All phases of play combined, he came second (20) after Nick Suzuki (23). However, the two attackers remained very far from the league leader at the time of writing; unsurprisingly, it was Connor McDavid, with 51. There is also, in advanced statistics, the notion of “shot-assist” – literally assists on shots taken, without regard to goals scored. However, the sites that compile it are rare, and you have to pay to access them.