Roberto or Cory, Roberto and Cory? Lockout, strike or new deal. All of these things are tied together and we won’t have answer to the important Vancouver issue until the league issue is addressed. But when I say addressed I don’t necessarily mean solved.

Every year after the Stanley Cup has been handed out to some miserable team that isn’t Vancouver, the NHL puts out a press release in the last week of June. The statement lets everyone know what the salary cap and ceiling will be for the following year. It’s like clockwork. This one little release will be the first indicator of what is to follow.

If the NHL comes out with the same cap information this year it doesn’t mean there won’t be a strike or a lockout, but it does mean that GM’s have a number with which they can work under. I have heard it will be anywhere from $69-72 million. Now what about that pesky work stoppage that could happen on Sept 15th? Most GM’s will have all their contracts for that year worked out so that the team fits between the cap and floor. If a work stoppage comes and the owners get their way again, there will be a universal rollback of salaries.

So if I was GMMG, but I am better looking, I have to first wait to see if the league announces a number at the end of June. If the NHL does not make that announcement I know that Armageddon is coming and everyone is fucked. But if they do come out with a cap number and the Aquilinis agree, I go spending. I don’t have to trade Roberto or Cory. I can even sign Cory for a couple years. (or take him to arbitration) I can say bye-bye to Sammy (Pahlsson and Salo) and MayRay and go after Suter or Parise and still have some money in the bank. And if there is a lockout, so be it.

I believe GMMG when he says he wants to keep both goalies. Teams will be interested in either of them and the Nucks may benefit from signing Cory first and then trading him during the year.

So I will be waiting for that announcement in June.

My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Daniel Sedin ($6.100m) / Henrik Sedin ($6.100m) / Alexandre Burrows ($2.000m)
David Booth ($4.250m) / Ryan Kesler ($5.000m) / Zach Parise ($6.500m)
Chris Higgins ($1.900m) / Manny Malhotra ($2.500m) / Jannik Hansen ($1.350m)
Andrew Ebbett ($0.600m) / Maxim Lapierre ($1.000m) / Dale Weise ($0.650m)
Zack Kassian ($0.870m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Kevin Bieksa ($4.600m) / Dan Hamhuis ($4.500m)
Keith Ballard ($4.200m) / Alexander Edler ($3.250m)
Andrew Alberts ($1.225m) / Chris Tanev ($0.900m)
Aaron Rome ($0.750m) / Sami Salo ($2.000m)
GOALTENDERS
Roberto Luongo ($5.333m)
Cory Schneider ($3.000m)
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CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $69,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $68,578,333; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $421,667