There are two big storylines heading into training camp that will likely dominate conversation. The first is the ongoing contract negotiations with restricted free agent Matthew Tkachuk. The second is the Calgary Flames’ tenuous cap situation for 2019-20.
But if the negotiations spill into the season, the Flames’ cap situation will get progressively worse.
Let’s do some math
Generally-speaking, most contracts are straight forward: an even distribution of cash over a number of years leading to a specific average annual value (cap hit). But when a player signs their contract into the season, the salary they get becomes pro-rated and impacts the cap hit of the deal in the rest of the deal.