Cap? What Cap?

According to Eric Duhatschek of the Toronto Globe and Mail, some teams such as the Flyers have figured out a way to "circumvent" the NHL's salary cap in an effort to fast track their turnaround.

The Flyers structured the Timonen deal that way, partly as a means of circumventing the NHL salary cap. In terms of dollars paid out to players (as opposed to their salary-cap "value"), the Flyers' payroll could be well above the expected 2007-08 salary cap of $48-million to $50-million, depending upon how they structure their contracts between now and September.

No, this is not illegal and yes, there is a price to be paid for the strategy in the future.

However, if the intent is to load up the lineup this year, after a dismal season in 2006-07, then paying bigger dollars up front is one way of fast-tracking their turnaround - and never mind the consequences next decade.

Very interesting read.