The Senators will get some leeway with Jason Spezza and his salary on long-term disability, but it’s a little bit complicated.

Spezza’s $7 million salary-cap hit doesn’t come off the team’s payroll. Rather, the percentage of his salary went he’s out becomes a cushion for the team.

For example: if he’s out for $1 million of time, that amount gets added as a cushion for the team to use at the end of the season

It’ll come in handy if Bryan Murray has to recall players from Bingo, or pay for a player at the trade deadline.