NHL instituted their salary floor quite a while ago now, and despite thinking that we know everything that it's existence has affected, I am here to tell you that there is one more important thing that we are only now figuring out. The salary floor has made it much easier to hit the ground running for a new franchise. Teams are no longer doomed to a half decade of mediocre existence when they first enter the league.
This season is coming to a close, and as it stands the year two Seattle Kraken are well positioned to reach the postseason. The Vegas Golden Knights, as it turns out, are also going to reach the playoffs after missing out last year for the first time in their 6 year history.
The last time the NHL expanded, the Wild seemed an aberration, making the playoffs in their third year, while the Blue Jackets only reached the postseason twice in their first 15 years. The Lightning made it once in their first 10 years. The Sharks and Panthers had early successes, but even for them and the Wild, they weren't playoff competitors in years one or two. The Mighty Ducks took four years to make the postseason, the Predators even longer. The Thrashers only made the playoffs once before moving to Winnipeg. To round out the expansion teams since 1992, the Senators went until their fifth season before they reached the playoffs.
The point is, going from being an expansion team to being successful used to be hard. It seems like it's not such a handicap anymore.
Historically, when a team came to existence, they were forced to pull from the dregs of other teams in the expansion drafts, and subsequently build through the draft at varying levels of success. Now, starting from the expansion draft, teams like the Golden Knights and the Kraken have a little more leverage. They are no longer reluctant to take on salary from the outset, or select guys that might be looking at large contracts in the near future. Now, they are seeking to reach a minimum threshold without any existing liability to worry about.
These teams can be unafraid to go after players with legitimate futures now. They can get comfortable taking large contracts on, so long as there is something to sweeten the pot, like an additional draft picks or an enticing prospect. Not only is sustained success then right around the corner, but immediate success too. If a team is more willing to pull a third line skater making a few million a year, rather than an AHL afterthought in the draft, then of course they are going to be better.
If the league ever expands again, don't be surprised if they are met with immediate success. Nowadays, it takes general managing malpractice to keep missing the post season, since there are so many tailwinds for parity.
Looking at you, Arizona.
