Stanley Cup another reminder that NHL needs to fix tax inequity issue

Maybe this represents a snapshot in time where it is a coincidence that four of the six no-state-tax teams have accounted for 11 of the aggregate 20 conference final spots over the past four years. 

And if Florida prevails over Edmonton in the Stanley Cup Final, the NHL would have its fourth champion in the past five seasons coming from a no-tax state, after Tampa Bay won in 2020 and 2021, and Vegas won last year. Colorado in 2022 is the exception. 

This is not about Rangers-Panthers. I’ve been writing about the inequity within the hard-cap system over tax rates way before the Puddy Tats grew into Ferocious Cats. It is hard to miss. There is a benefit attached to a team being able to offer somewhat less on a contract because of tax matters. 

Tampa Bay, Vegas and Dallas have each been to the conference final three times in the past five years. Florida has been there twice. Nashville and Seattle — the other two no-tax state teams — did not make it. 

Bill Zito has done outstanding work as GM in Florida, the same for Jim Nill in Dallas, the same for Steve Yzerman and Julien BriseBois in Tampa, and George McPhee and Kelly McCrimmon in Vegas. They’re all sharp and disciplined. They’ve built programs that have lasted. 

They don’t need help.