Cry More About State Taxes — There’s Nothing the NHL Can Do, and You Know It

Cry More About State Taxes — There’s Nothing the NHL Can Do, and You Know It

Nobody in the NFL, MLB, or NBA complains about state taxes, but apparently, it’s a hot-button issue in the NHL. Mostly stemming from Paul Bissonnette, AKA Biz Idiot. I genuinely like Biz and think he’s great for the game, but his state tax take falls in the Biz Idiot category. It’s hard to take him seriously on it.

Biz is playing a dangerous game, and I’m not sure he’s smart enough to realize what he’s actually doing. He’s found a way to brainwash a large group of fans into thinking the state tax rules need to be changed in the NHL.

A: Credit to him for having that type of influence.

B: There’s nothing the NHL can do about the state tax rules, and everybody with a brain knows it.

The state tax laws are a political issue, not an NHL issue. If Biz or anyone else has a problem with it, take it up with the political legislators. Furthermore, if the NHL even tried to do something about it, they would be sitting on a massive lawsuit that they know they couldn’t win, and it’s really not arguable.

Today, we put this stupid topic to bed once and for all. By the way, I’d argue it was already put to bed when Gary Bettman put Biz in a blender. If you’re going to run your mouth and then get owned like this… maybe shut your mouth. And again, I like Biz, but if this is going to be your performance in trying to get a rule changed, and then you continue to run your mouth after the fact… maybe look in the mirror, buddy.

Commissioner Bettman joined the boys before Game 3 and may have put @BizNasty2point0 in his place over the state-tax question 😅 pic.twitter.com/tVFQqWT9Q1

— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) June 9, 2025

There are six no-state tax teams in the NHL: Dallas, Florida, Tampa, Vegas, Nashville, and Seattle. Notice how nobody complains about Nashville or Seattle? Because it takes a smart team to even enter this conversation. So we’re going to blame state taxes because Kelly McCrimmon and Bill Zito understand team-building? Frankly, it’s insulting, and additionally, every rule change Biz and his other idiot followers want implemented is illegal.

Imagine trying to get that rule changed. Yeah, so everyone who lives in the state of Florida gets no-state tax… except for 1% of the athletes who play in the NHL? Good luck getting that approved without a massive lawsuit.

After today, there’s no room for discussion, and if you’re continuing to hound the NHL and Gary Bettman about it, it’s further proof you’re just not educated. So let’s get started to put this idiotic debate to bed.

WATCH: Gary Bettman Delivers Hilarious Chirp To Paul Bissonette

Let’s get one thing straight: this isn’t a hockey problem. It’s a tax code problem. And unless the NHL wants to challenge U.S. state sovereignty and Canadian provincial tax law… which would be illegal and insane… It’s not changing.

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Section 1: It’s 100% Legal and Protected by the Constitution

• States in the U.S. are guaranteed the right to set their own tax codes.
• No federal law exists — or could exist — to equalize this for private employees.
• Nevada (0% income tax) vs. California (~13.3%) is a state choice, not a sports league issue.
• Source: U.S. Constitution – 10th Amendment

“The powers not delegated to the United States… are reserved to the States respectively.”

You want athletes to stop signing in no-tax states? Take it up with your governor. The league doesn’t have jurisdiction.

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Section 2: Canadian Athletes Are Taxed Even HARDER

• Ontario tax rate for high income: ~53.5%. Quebec is even worse.
• NHLers playing for Toronto or Montreal take home millions less than if they played in Tampa, Dallas, or Vegas.
• But those rates are set by Canada’s Parliament and provincial government, not Gary Bettman.

So if Toronto fans are mad about Vegas’ cap maneuvering, blame Trudeau, not Stone or Eichel.

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Section 3: You Can’t Regulate What You Can’t Control

Let’s play this out:

• You try to “adjust” cap hits based on tax bracket? Now you need every player’s residency, which can change mid-season.
• Players with dual homes or green cards? Tax status gets even murkier.
• What about escrow? Already wildly complex — now you’re adding adjusted cap math based on variable state/provincial laws?

“Tax-equalization” ideas are DOA — unenforceable, illegal, and insanely dumb.

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Section 4: It Still Takes Competence

• The Panthers went decades being irrelevant despite no tax.
• The Marlins are still a joke.
• The Coyotes had a free tax ride and couldn’t run a lemonade stand.
• Vegas and Florida win because of smart roster building, trades, coaching, and a culture that actually functions.

If state taxes were the cheat code, every team in Seattle and Nashville would be elite in every league. They’re not.

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The Hammer:

So to Biz, ESPN, and everyone else crying about Marner in Vegas:
There’s no fix because there’s no problem.

Athletes move where the money, weather, and winning are, just like you would. Don’t you own property in Arizona? Maybe the league should attack you for taking advantage of the advantages this country has to offer?

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And here’s the worst part…

Instead of taking the L after Bettman stuffed him in a locker, the Spittin Chiclets crew had the audacity to ask Elliotte Friedman about it. Who knew Elliotte spoke to someone who was even possibly dumber? The suggestion he heard from someone was “only allow a player to cash in on no-state tax if they’re a UFA.”

Do you idiots understand the hidden consequences of that? It’s called Rasmus Andersson walks for nothing, so he can sign with Vegas instead of punishing himself via trade while the Flames collect assets. The Noah Hanifin trade no longer happens. He just walks to Vegas free of charge.

Of course, those idiots don’t have the forward-thinking ability to understand that, so let me continue…

Dear, Biz. You will take Nic Roy and like it, because the alternative is actually worse…

Marner to Vegas

Fold your cards

Dear, Leafs fans. You will take Nic Roy and like it#marner #VegasBorn https://t.co/gAR6a964la pic.twitter.com/Ha9cRLq1tk

— Trey Daubert (@treydaubert) June 30, 2025

You Can’t Regulate State Income Tax Any More Than You Can Regulate Weed or Guns

Let’s make something clear for everyone crying about Vegas or anyone else having no state income tax, with more examples.

🟢 Weed Laws

Players in Colorado can legally smoke weed. Players in Texas cannot.
The NHL does not and cannot step in to say “actually we’re banning weed for Colorado players.”
Why? Because the state has jurisdiction, not the league. It’s legally protected behavior.

🔫 Gun Laws

Want to buy a gun in Texas or Tennessee? Totally legal under state law.
Want to buy the same gun in New York or California? Maybe not.

The NHL isn’t overriding gun laws. They can’t. It’s literally unconstitutional.
2nd Amendment. Look it up.

💸 Income Tax

Same logic. Nevada, Florida, etc, have zero state income tax. That’s the law.
It’s not a loophole. It’s an intentional policy passed by elected officials.
You can hate it, but it’s legal… and it’s permanent unless voters decide otherwise.

The NHL stepping in to penalize players for following state tax law would be illegal and trigger a massive lawsuit.
You’re asking a sports league to override sovereign tax policy. That’s never going to happen.

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📜 For the Constitution Nerds:

U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8:

“The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes…”

That means only federal government has power over national taxation.
State taxes are decided state by state. Period.

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💬 Final Word

This isn’t just a dumb take from Biz (who I actually like).
It’s a trend in hockey media to pretend that this can somehow be “fixed.” It can’t.
It’s not a cap issue. It’s not a loophole. It’s American tax law.

You want tax equality?

Move the Leafs to Texas and call it a day.

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