On Friday, we learned that the Maple Leafs have invented a whole new use for the Taxi Squad. For years, NHL teams have carved out some cash for themselves by sending players on two-way contracts to the AHL where they’re paid less. They do it over the Christmas break for that extra whiff of, “yes we’re cheaping out on your back, why do you ask?” With the dawn of the salary cap era, and the extreme cap crunch many teams are operating under this year, the expectation is that teams would “paper down” a player to bank cap space whenever they get the chance.
The Dell Gambit: Why and at what cost?
