Only if they are on the 2-way deals...
GMs might certainly play games with accruing cap space by assigning high salaried players to taxi squads on off days, I can see that happening.
- StargateSG1

Right, that's why I said "two-way" in the original post and specifically mentioned Zadina. A player like him seems particularly vulnerable to this sort of maneuver since (1) he doesn't have to clear waivers and (2) he's on a two-way deal, so he actually gets paid a much lower salary if he's not officially on the NHL roster.

Zadina, Brome, and Rasmussen (plus Smith and Hirose, if they were to make the squad) are all in this situation, since they are waiver-exempt AND their actual salaries also drop significantly if they are being paid at their "AHL rate."

Right, that's why I said "two-way" in the original post and specifically mentioned Zadina. A player like him seems particularly vulnerable to this sort of maneuver since (1) he doesn't have to clear waivers and (2) he's on a two-way deal, so he actually gets paid a much lower salary if he's not officially on the NHL roster.

Zadina, Brome, and Rasmussen (plus Smith and Hirose, if they were to make the squad) are all in this situation, since they are waiver-exempt AND their actual salaries also drop significantly if they are being paid at their "AHL rate."
- Sven22

I don't really think SY will do that to them, and he has the cap room to not worry about anything else, so I think they'll stay on the NHL roster.
Other GMs thou, you never know

NHL Rumour Roundup: On UFAs, trade talk, taxi squads, and a Canadian hub
https://www.sportsnet.ca/...taxi-squads-canadian-hub/

I don't really think SY will do that to them, and he has the cap room to not worry about anything else, so I think they'll stay on the NHL roster.
Other GMs thou, you never know

NHL Rumour Roundup: On UFAs, trade talk, taxi squads, and a Canadian hub
https://www.sportsnet.ca/...taxi-squads-canadian-hub/
- StargateSG1

I think you are correct. I would imagine just the damage it would do to the relationship with the player would make saving $300k not at all worth it. But you never know.

I think you are correct. I would imagine just the damage it would do to the relationship with the player would make saving $300k not at all worth it. But you never know.
- Sven22

I would suppose if there is some sort of mid-season break of a few days, that this sort or "paper transaction" would happen. There will be some shuffling as a means of giving players a break, or giving a youngster a look. the Wings are not in cap hell, so I don't see why this would be abused as say Tampa will probably do.

This is a good article on some of the pitfalls and how problematic the Taxi Squad could be to players.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/...isions-roster-taxi-squad/

That would be good news if true. Is that a change specific to this year?

My understanding has always been that NHL players on two-way contracts are paid based on "days on roster," NOT games played. See this recent thread from the much-smarter-than-me guys at Capfriendly: https://twitter.com/CapFr...tatus/1340685549863133185

In past years some players (even Zadina if I recall correctly) have been jerked around a bit with paper transactions during longer gaps between game days, but that came with a downside since the player would presumably not be able to practice / travel with the NHL squad during their "demotion." Taxi squads make such a distinction moot, so it seems like it would be much more open to "creative accounting" abuses at the players' expense.

EDIT / ADDITION: The key here to my point is "two-way contract." Sending, say, Filppula down to the taxi squad creates cap space but doesn't affect his salary. But the guys on two-way deals actually get paid much less if they are in the AHL. (Conversely, they also get their full "daily" NHL rate for every day they're called up to an NHL roster, even if they don't play any games.)
- Sven22

I’m not sure how recent it is. Basically, each set pay period has number of games played listed. If someone came up for a game or two, they’d get those games from the NHL and the rest of whatever they played in the AHL. I know Toronto had to do the “paper waiver” a ton a season or two ago. Kept the player up but had to adjust the cap number. Some GMs are a nightmare at book keeping (remember when Jersey had to play with a short roster due to the big contract of Kovulchuck?). Yzerman’s a pretty fair/straightforward guy. I don’t doubt that teams right up against the cap will try to play musical cap hit at some point

I’m not sure how recent it is. Basically, each set pay period has number of games played listed. If someone came up for a game or two, they’d get those games from the NHL and the rest of whatever they played in the AHL. I know Toronto had to do the “paper waiver” a ton a season or two ago. Kept the player up but had to adjust the cap number. Some GMs are a nightmare at book keeping (remember when Jersey had to play with a short roster due to the big contract of Kovulchuck?). Yzerman’s a pretty fair/straightforward guy. I don’t doubt that teams right up against the cap will try to play musical cap hit at some point
- Jeremy Laura

I am quite certain (although not 100% ironclad certain, because I can't seem to find it spelled out quite as definitively as I would like in an official source) that NHL/AHL pay is based on days on the roster, not on games played.

Found this nugget buried in the official NHL form for transferring a player to the minors -- "exhibit 26" in the CBA:

SALARY

If you are Recalled to an NHL Club prior to 5:00 PM New York time on a particular day, your Paragraph 1 NHL Salary shall commence on the date of Recall. If you are Loaned from an NHL Club prior to 5:00 PM New York time, your Paragraph 1 Minor League Salary (if applicable) shall commence on the date of Loan, unless you have practiced or travelled with the Club or played in an NHL game with the Club prior to 5:00 PM New York time on the date of Loan, in which event your Paragraph 1 Minor League Salary (if applicable) shall commence on the date following the date of Loan. If you are Loaned to a minor league club on a Conditioning Loan, your Paragraph 1 NHL Salary shall remain in effect.