The NHL salary cap is expected to climb US$25.5 million over the next three seasons, according to figures released Friday by the league and the NHL Players' Association.
In a joint release, the league and the union say the upper limit a team can spend on its roster will jump $7.5 million next season to $95.5 million, with a floor of $70.6 million.
The cap is expected to rise $8.5 million to $104 million for 2026-27, and another $9.6 million to $113.5 million for 2027-28. The roster minimums are expected to be $76.9 million in 2027-28 and $83.9 million the following season.
The projected cap increases are significant compared to recent years. The cap was locked in at $81.5 million from 2019-20 to 2021-22 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It then increased by one million in each of the next two seasons before a $4.5-million increase brought it to $88 million for this campaign.
The release says minor adjustments might be made to the numbers for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons and the figures are subject to a collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the NHLPA being in effect. The current agreement is scheduled to expire in September 2026.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 31, 2025.
The Canadian Press
