Marquee players making 8 million bucks is a definite part of the problem. That's what marquee players in the NFL are just starting to make, and their teams have a solid 3 times the revenue. Even Roenick has admitted that marquee NHL players probable shouldn't be making more than 5 mil. Now the 2nd teir guys don't help matters any, but their salary is "in line" if you assume the marque guys should be making 8 (half the talent, half the pay, that works).
Canada's tax rate certainly doesn't help them. But there's not much the NHL can do about it. I know in 2000 the Canadiens were the lowest taxes team in Canada at $25 mil, which was enough then to get you an all-star 1st line on both offense and defense (now just offense).
Yeah, they need a floor. So does the NFL. IMHO that's the only thing the NBA capdoes right.
In theory caps restore competitive balance, if they're done right. The cap has done wonders for NFL parity, but a bad cap has done nothing for NBA or MLB parity. Only time will tell.
I have to disagree with you on the better players getting more money thing. A player like Roenick should get 8 million if he can. If he choses to work for less, that's his business.
However, if you take the premise that a "defensive" forward in this league should make 3 mil per, that's a stretch.
It would be better if those 8-12 guys in the 2-4 range had their salaries pared backk a bit. You already have a rookie minimum, a league minimum and some fairly decent free agency rules. If you took that extra money and tried to lure some more marquee players, you'd fill seats every night. Roenick is actually a good example.
In Philly, you have Roenick, Rechhi, Primeau, Dejardins and a great younger player in Gagne. If you took, for example, half a mil from Claude Lapointe, another half a mil from Chris Therien and did the same to a two other second-tier players, you could now give Gagne that money and keep him in Philly when his contract is up. He has nothing but upside and is definately not "rental" material. Would you rather keep one of the more exciting players in the league, who's just starting his career for the sake of another mediocre player or two? I say Gange is worth more to Philly that three Claude Lapointes or two Chris Theriens, wouldn't you?