When the Tampa Bay Lightning made moves at the NHL draft to clear salary cap space, general manager Julien BriseBois hoped a variety of factors would entice players to sign as free agents. One, of course, was the organization's penchant for winning and the talent already on the roster. Another, he pointed out, was the “favorable taxation situation.” It has become difficult to deny the impact of favorable tax situations around the league in recent years.
NHL free agency shows teams in states with no income tax have an advantage