Not enough money to cover for bonuses. Would need Bernier or JVR to have about $1.25 million retained, which would probably be Bernier.

I do think JVR to Chicago makes a lot of sense.

I don't think moving Crow makes sense. He'd have to waive his NMC first of all, which I'm not sure would happen. I also have no desire to take a goalie back in the trade - I'd rather take the risk of Darling/Johansson. In that sense, if we were to move Crow, I see it being to a team like Calgary, but even then I'm not sure how to make it work.

As to bonuses, I still strongly believe the escalator gets used, which makes the cap 74M.

How does the escalator work? Would it be that the cap itself is $71.4 and then teams can go up to $74 with bonuses?

Teams can spend to the cap (let's say 74m) and the bonuses earned in 2016/2017 are either added to the cap space on 2016/2017(if there is room) or any excess will be added to the salary in 2017/2018..

Actually this type of trade to the Leafs makes sense for both teams. IF Crawford would agree to a trade it helps the Leafs solidify their goaltending for four years. Bernier gives Hawks (hopefully) good goaltending for a year and then they have cap space, with Bernier a UFA, to figure out their goaltending in the summer of 2017.

I would make this deal if I were the Leafs and would even retain salary on both JVR and Bernier to make it work financially for Chicago. I obviously think highly of Crawford.

Even though he'll turn 32 this year, he seems to have gotten steadily better as he's aged. He could turn out to be a late bloomer like Hasek or Tim Thomas. Ed Belfour played very well late into his career as well.

The escalator is an option to add up to 5% onto a revenue only based cap - meaning, the cap could would raise to about $74m instead of staying flat. It has nothing to do with bonuses, it just raises the cap up to 5%.

The NHLPA has complete control over this escalator, and they may not opt to use it because it messes with their escrow numbers (meaning more money is taken out of their paycheck and it's already at 16% removed this past year). Players with contracts already may vote not to use it while those without contracts would push for it so that the cap is higher and more contract / higher paid contracts are possible. The escalator has been used every time except once since it's introduction, but every year since 2013, the vote has been closer and closer among the NHLPA.