Barry Trotz admits that tax-free states have a competitive advantage.

For some time now, a contentious debate has been raging within the National Hockey League over competitive integrity issues regarding tax-free states.

The general criticism from those who feel that this practice has given some teams an unfair advantage stems from the fact that players under contract in tax-exempt states will earn more than players under identical contracts elsewhere, effectively giving some teams the ability to put more real money in the players’ pockets without them having to pay more. More importantly, those extra dollars go into the players’ pockets without teams in tax-exempt states having to commit as many dollars from their capped salary each season.

Unfortunately, the debate doesn’t seem to be settling there, although Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz recently made some comments that could tip the scales. Trotz, who himself enjoys the benefits of recruiting players from a tax-free state, Tennessee, as the Predators’ general manager, admitted that it does indeed give teams an advantage.

“There’s no doubt it’s an advantage,” Trotz admitted on TSN Overdrive..

While most might be inclined to believe that the biggest advantage would come when the biggest contracts are on the table, Trotz actually indicated that he believes it’s a bigger factor when it comes to rounding out the middle of your roster.

“When you talk to a Steven Stamkos … or guys who are serial winners, guys who have had stellar careers and made a lot of money, it doesn’t go that far,” Trotz said. “It helps a little bit in the middle group, for the elite players, they’re just looking for a place where they really want to win.”

Trotz again admitted that he thinks it helps a team round out its roster.

“For the guys who usually lead your teams and make the big difference, I don’t think it’s that big of a difference, I think it’s more for the guys who are kind of in the second and third division.”