Johnny Gaudreau's death could force NHL to give Blue Jackets a rare exemption

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Axel Williams
September 1, 2024 (7:45 PM)

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Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau passed away on Thursday night in a tragic accident that has left the entire NHL in a state of mourning.

For those who may not be aware, as a result of his passing, Gaudreau's contract has been taken off of the Blue Jackets' books. However, this has created a unique problem that the team never saw coming. According to The Hockey News, the Blue Jackets are now under the cap floor by a couple of million dollars. This means they are not cap-compliant and would be breaking the league's rules. Of course, this is not their fault, but it does create an awkward scenario.

"The salary cap floor in the league this season stands at $65 M and with Gaudreau's salary coming off the books, the Ohio outfit finds itself at $62,301,666 M which is to say $2,698,334 M away from being cap compliant."

Given the circumstances surrounding this, one would have to assume that the NHL would offer some sort of exemption to the Blue Jackets. However, if they don't, the Blue Jackets will be forced to find a solution. Overall, this is a horrible place for GM Don Waddell to be in, as his focus should be on the team's mental health, and not the finer details of the NHL's rigid CBA. Only time will tell what the league ultimately decides. Perhaps another team can step in and help out, but it's not a guarantee that something can be worked out swiftly.

Do you believe the Blue Jackets will get an exemption from the NHL? Let us know in the poll down below and stay tuned to Hockey Unplugged for the latest news and updates from around the hockey world.

Source: The Hockey News
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