NHL’s Salary Cap Could Rise By $10M Over Next 3 Seasons

After hitting the brakes due to the pandemic, the NHL salary cap is reportedly set for a quick rise in the coming seasons.

The league’s cap, which will hit a record $82.5 million in the 2022-23 season, could rise by around $10 million over the next three years, sources told SportsNet. Teams have reportedly been given guidance on the cap’s future.

• The cap could jump $1 million in 2023-24, then bump another $4 million each of the following two seasons, per the sources’ estimates.
• That would place the spending limit at approximately $92 million in 2025-26.
• In addition to the cap, the NHL has a spending floor, which is $61 million for the 2022-23 season.

The league instituted a $39 million cap for the 2005-06 season. The cap rose steadily before freezing at $81.5 million for the three pandemic-affected seasons, beginning with 2019-20.

Earlier this month, Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon became the highest-paid player in league history, signing an eight-year, $100.8 million deal.

Revenue Rebound

The NHL hit $5.2 billion in revenue last season on the strength of new media deals and a return to a full schedule. The league took in $5.1 billion in 2018-19.

Disney is paying the league $400 million annually, while Turner Sports is shelling out $225 million per season. Both seven-year deals were signed last year.