That's a great question. To some extent, it is one of the best things that happened to the league. It helped with developing new markets, and it also helped with the volatility of the Canadian dollar. It also helped to limit the salaries of players and the shared profit structure seems equitable. I think it is a better system than a luxury tax, where teams can go over the cap, but pay penalties. It also helped to develop and sustain small markets. Without a salary cap, it would become impossible for some teams to control the evolution of their expenses. That said, the fans are the real winners of that deal. By imposing a cap on the salaries of players, it also helps to keep the price of tickets "affordable".

Big markets cannot win because of their economic situation, relying more on tactics, negotiation and management skills. It also provides a context where the biggest market of the league, Toronto, cannot buy victories and win the first round of their playoffs as they rely on the quality of their manager and their team. Finding a way that Toronto cannot buy themselves a cup is, in itself, one of the greatest achievements in professional sports.