NHL/NHLPA announce Salary Cap increases for the next 3 seasons (2025-26: $95.5M, 2026-27: $104M, 2027-28: $113.5M)

[ToDavid]

Imagine being such a weiner that you hope players make less

I’m all for players making what they make but there is zero reason for fans to care about anything other than the competitiveness of the team. We should not be worried about the financial plight of the owners or the players.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

I’m all for players making what they make but there is zero reason for fans to care about anything other than the competitiveness of the team. We should not be worried about the financial plight of the owners or the players.

Says the Leafs fan.

Not everyone is a fan of a big market team that the League bends over backward to please (and still fails to get much of anything done!).

 

[robertocarlos]

4. Ultimately, the fans will pay for all this just as before.

My Prime TV payment is increasing 15% to $11.54 CDN a month.

 

[robertocarlos]

RIP Winnipeg. Was a fun couple decades.

I'm moving to Mexico with the team. Or maybe Europe. I'm not moving to the USA.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Winnipeg and Ottawa going to be littered with sponsors all over their jerseys in the next few years to break even

Probably the Oilers and Leafs to be more accurate, there jerseys will look like a team from Switzerland.
Those teams jack the prices on anything, probably charge you $5 for a straw and 2 bucks for a napkin.

 

[Habs Halifax]

My Prime TV payment is increasing 15% to $11.54 CDN a month.

I am sure Amazon Prime is going to be in the mix on the new TV deals. For now, you can watch Monday night Prime but very soon, they will put it on one of their extra payment platforms like Paramount+

 

[robertocarlos]

I wonder if guys like Rantanen, Marner take a two-year deal and then try again for even more when the cap has gone up almost 20 mill

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I’m all for players making what they make but there is zero reason for fans to care about anything other than the competitiveness of the team. We should not be worried about the financial plight of the owners or the players.

That is your own prerogative so speak for yourself only. Some other fans like to dig into details a bit more. Many fans on these boards are GM pretenders. Let them be.

I wonder if guys like Rantanen, Marner take a two-year deal and then try again for even more when the cap has gone up almost 20 mill

That should have happened with various contracts during covid (agent strategy at times with less certainty). But now that the flood gates are open and everyone knows the projections, they will look at the %'s and they don't need to look further than $114M. I think you are going to see more longer term deals now.

 

[robertocarlos]

I am sure Amazon Prime is going to be in the mix on the new TV deals. For now, you can watch Monday night Prime but very soon, they will put it on one of their extra payment platforms like Paramount+

Resistance is futile but I'm good as long as HNIC is free on CBC and the Jets make it to the SCF. Things would be easier if I was a Leaf fan.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Resistance is futile but I'm good as long as HNIC is free on CBC and the Jets make it to the SCF. Things would be easier if I was a Leaf fan.

Jets are a legit contender and I think they add at the TDL. A sleeper contender if you ask me.

I have my own way to get around paying for hockey games and I can recommend something if you want to privately message me

 

[Golden_Jet]

That is your own prerogative so speak for yourself only. Some other fans like to dig into details a bit more. Many fans on these boards are GM pretenders. Let them be.



That should have happened with various contracts during covid (agent strategy at times with less certainty). But now that the flood gates are open and everyone knows the projections, they will look at the %'s and they don't need to look further than $114M. I think you are going to see more longer term deals now.

I’m kinda thinking the opposite, if cap is rising by 8-9% all the time, they will go for shorter deals, like Matthews did.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I’m kinda thinking the opposite, if cap is rising by 8-9% all the time, they will go for shorter deals, like Matthews did.

It won't rise like that for too long. This is Covid catch up time and also extra revenue from Seattle and Utah (new TV deals as well). We have seen this before. It will stabilize but then I wonder... more expansion teams coming?

I just don't see it going 8-9% every year... that is well above normal inflation

 

[VivaLasVegas]

I'm moving to Mexico with the team. Or maybe Europe. I'm not moving to the USA.

"She said, 'Whoa, no, Guadalajara won't do.' " ~ Steely Dan

 

[Sota Popinski]

I’m all for players making what they make but there is zero reason for fans to care about anything other than the competitiveness of the team. We should not be worried about the financial plight of the owners or the players.

Who was worried about financial plight? You're just making up a straw man because you know there's no good argument against paying a player 20% of the salary cap when EVERY OTHER SPORT HAS PLAYERS MAKING THAT

You want players to take less just so the GM can blow it on someone not as good I guess.

 

[Edgelord]

"She said, 'Whoa, no, Guadalajara won't do.' " ~ Steely Dan

he tried to go to Colombia 1st but when they found out it was the Jets they refused to let them land lol

 

[Kerberos]

Draisaitl once again about to become one of the best value contracts, if not the best, in the entire league.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Who was worried about financial plight? You're just making up a straw man because you know there's no good argument against paying a player 20% of the salary cap when EVERY OTHER SPORT HAS PLAYERS MAKING THAT

You want players to take less just so the GM can blow it on someone not as good I guess.

Nah, the issue is that the other sports make way, way, way more money than the NHL and that hockey is a regional sport while the other ones have huge national reach. Hockey fans don't tend to care about games that don't involve their teams, that isn't the case with the other ones.

Saying the NHL should pay its athletes as much as the NBA is just as stupid as saying that women professional athletes should be paid as much as men "just cuz".

 

[Toby91ca]

Seems to much, how did you calculate that?

Bit of a back of the envelope type calc.....general increase in cap ~$25M x 32 teams x2 (50% share of revenues between players and owners)

 

[Sota Popinski]

Nah, the issue is that the other sports make way, way, way more money than the NHL and that hockey is a regional sport while the other ones have huge national reach. Hockey fans don't tend to care about games that don't involve their teams, that isn't the case with the other ones.

Saying the NHL should pay its athletes as much as the NBA is just as stupid as saying that women professional athletes should be paid as much as men "just cuz".

Now show me where I said the NHL should pay it's athletes as much as the NBA

 

[Golden_Jet]

Hockey fans don't tend to care about games that don't involve their teams, that isn't the case with the other ones.

Disagree,
there are fans like that sure, but a lot want to just watch hockey.

I’m like that with other sports though, like football, just watch my team.

 

[PeE eL DuBoiS]

Also means they can afford to resign Tavares at 10M+ a year

THAT'S NOT FUNNY

 

[Jozay]

Small market fans just fell to their knees

 

[chaser17]

So don't buy the hot dog?

IMO, the only things you can complain about their prices are the tickets, and maybe parking. Tickets cause, well, y'aint getting in without one. Parking is a maybe cause you gotta get there, but there are options. The rest is optional. No one is forced to buy beer or food at a rink, or hats, jerseys, or whatever.

In actuality refusing the hot dog(etc.) sends the message.

Sometimes you just gotta say no. Remember too you're a customer, and when the business provider fails to provide value, you cease doing business. Teams, media, etc., perpetuate the "fan" thing so that you think you're "part of a tribe" or have some "duty" to a piece of laundry. But ultimately, they are a business that is looking to separate you from your money, same as Apple, Amazon, Microsoft or P&G. Why should an NHL team be treated differently than those companies when you are paying the money?

I think you missed my point. In an already unstable economy fans are going to be forced to pay even more to go to games. I think its unsustainable in Canadian markets.

 

[CupofOil]

Definitely good news for the Oilers.

I see it as bad news. Good news in terms of the Draisaitl and even Nurse contract to an extent but bad news in terms of negotiating the McDavid and Bouchard deals.

The teams that are in the best shape are the ones that have their core locked in early.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Bit of a back of the envelope type calc.....general increase in cap ~$25M x 32 teams x2 (50% share of revenues between players and owners)

that’s assuming, no increase to the numerous player benefits, pensions, per diems etc.