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Shane Pinto calls for change over unfair tax advantage for Panthers, Golden Knights and other NHL teams
Shane Pinto isn't a fan of the tax advantages that some teams, solely due to location, have over others. Teams in certain areas have less strenuous tax rules and that can be enticing to players who might prefer to keep a little bit more of their salaries. It impacts all sports, but Pinto is calling it out for hockey.
“They have to find a way to tweak it, honestly. If you look at all these free agents, you don’t blame them for going down south. It’s just what it is, and it’s best for their families and taxes and lifestyle-wise. But I do think they have to find a way, especially for the Canadian teams," Pinto told The Athletic.
He said that Canadians have to "overpay guys" just to sign with teams in that country, and it has serious impacts on the cap. Pinto continued:
"I think they do have to find a way to try to just even it out. I know it’s not easy because it’s been like that forever, but I think it’d be nice to have an even playing field,” he added.
Pinto plays for the Ottawa Senators, and he believes his team and others in similar situations do not have the same chance of signing players as teams like the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, and others.
NHL exec echoes Shane Pinto's concerns
Shane Pinto isn't alone in comprehending the tax difficulties that some teams inevitably face. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic that this is an issue that comes up frequently from the board and from team GMs.
“There are no easy fixes. It’s not like we can just pick from Column A and fix the problem overnight. Players make decisions on where they want to play for a variety of reasons. Their bottom line is one of them, but the quality of life and the communities they live in is probably more important,” Daly told The Athletic.
Both Pinto and Daly acknowledged the fact that this is not an easy fix and that it remains a troublesome aspect of NHL free agency. However, it is on the radar of the league, so perhaps some change is coming.
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