The Capitals could end up with penalties for going over the salary cap.
Max Pacioretty's return to play has been a welcome sight for the Washington Capitals, but the team could face some complications with regard to his contract.
Pacioretty's one-year, $2 million deal he signed with the team this summer included bonuses for games played; 10 games would earn him an extra $1 million, 15 an extra $500,000 and 20 another $500,000.
Per CapFriendly, if no changes are made to free up cap space to accommodate for these bonuses, Washington will face overage penalties that will go against next year's cap.
The Capitals are utilizing the long-term injured reserve to save space this season, which includes Nicklas Backstrom's $9.5 million cap hit as he remains away indefinitely due to his hip. However, that doesn't eliminate his cap hit, but instead allows the team to exceed the cap.
As such, if the team can't cover the earned bonus, it will be applied as a carryover bonus overage penalty next season, as pointed out here per the CBA.
Washington is currently three points out of a Wild Card spot, and their approach to the trade deadline on March 8 will be determined by where they stand. The Capitals could become sellers by then if they are out of the picture, but they could also look to bolster their roster if they are in the thick of the race. Still, the trade deadline will be crucial, and it could take away from some of the penalties the team would face in the summer.
At the end of the day, Pacioretty is providing the boost the team hoped he would. Through nine games, he has a goal and four assists, and he has also helped ignite a spark on the top-6. His partnership with T.J. Oshie has also brought a new look to the table that provides the offense that head coach Spencer Carbery has been looking for. Now, it's just a matter of consistency.