There is a major bug in franchise mode with the new contract extension screen. The game is using "cap outlook" when it calculates extension $ remaining. The problem is, that this "cap outlook" is ba...
Ideas
OK so I have done some more testing - cap outlook for next year always accounts for full 23 man roster. So even if you are rocking 20 man roster and have 3 players you have to extend (as I was in screenshots above), the game shows you remaining cap space that accounts (projects) for 6 more players. That (+ no salary cap rise) is why there is less money available. I dont know if this was the case in previous games, but I would say it wasnt - I would bet that previously this "cap outlook" was based on MINIMUM roster size (which would make sense) and not MAXIMUM 23 man roster.
Also done testing with only 17 contracts for next year - was expecting full cap space available, but the game then just created "virtual" contracts (based on 23 man roster) and still wouldnt allow to use full cap space for extensions...
Also this part from my OP wasnt right (but cant find edit button):
"So for example if you have 10 two-way contracts with 900k AAV on your AHL team, you will basically have 9 mil less in your cap space for next year (for signing extensions)."
> I have created more than 23 contracts for next year, but the game still counts "only" 23 of them.