Because a salary cap is almost sure to set in, established teams will probably shed high-priced veterans who no longer start or play major roles.
With all the high-priced veterans in the Rangers' dressing room, a relative bargain has easily been their best forward this season.
Franco said he felt the organization was moving backward and wondered aloud if he might be the next high-priced veteran sent out of town.
Had any of the high-priced veterans approached their normal outputs, there would never have been a full-scale purge.
Citing salary cap problems, the Redskins released him and some other high-priced veterans to get under the cap.
Smith's critics say he put together a team of high-priced veterans with past Stanley Cup success and no current hunger.
Grudzielanek and Karros were also high-priced veterans with their careers waning.
In 1975-76, the Rangers got off to their worst start in ten years and the team began getting rid of their high-priced veterans.
For example, during the 1995 season, he was forced to unload several high-priced veterans when the team was not contending.
With the Rangers facing a fourth consecutive season without a playoff berth, they might consider shedding some high-priced veterans.