List of team payrolls in the NHL
League

Year
Average team payroll
% change
Standard deviation
Team cap
Player cap
1998–99
$29,730,833
-
$7,375,757
No cap
No cap
1999–2000
$31,564,167
6.17%
$9,963,577
No cap
No cap
2000–01
$33,375,943
5.74%
$11,657,873
No cap
No cap
2001–02
$38,011,852
13.89%
$14,162,670
No cap
No cap
2002–03
$41,939,715
10.33%
$16,876,630
No cap
No cap
2003–04
$44,400,490
5.87%
$15,898,399
No cap
No cap
2004–05
Season canceled due to lockout
Season canceled due to lockout
Season canceled due to lockout
Season canceled due to lockout
Season canceled due to lockout
2005–06
$34,309,972
22.73%
$6,371,263
$39,000,000
$7,800,000
2006–07
$40,292,446
17.44%
$4,720,484
$44,000,000
$8,800,000
2007–08
$44,369,521
10.12%
$7,573,225
$50,300,000
$10,060,000
2008–09
$51,387,176
15.82%
$7,968,239
$56,700,000
$11,340,000
2009–10
$52,772,060
2.69%
$5,541,890
$56,800,000
$11,360,000
2010–11
$54,229,043
2.76%
$6,758,459
$59,400,000
$11,880,000
2011–12
$58,862,833
8.54%
$5,563,110
$64,300,000
$12,860,000

Question: How was the standard deviation of the NHL payrolls affected by the salary cap?
Answer: The standard deviation of the payrolls decreased from $15,898,399 to $6,371,263 after the salary cap was introduced.