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

[Golden_Jet]

So the cap floor will be:

81.5 for 25-26

88.4 for 26-27

96.475 for 27-28

You’re math is off by a lot, on how the floor is calculated.

Maximum cap is 15% higher than the midpoint.
Minimum cap is 15% less than the midpoint.

 

[Regal]

The one thing I don't like is this.

The owners get paid, the players get paid and us, fans have to pay for what is honestly a deteriorating product.

There's honestly a very good chance I'm not attending a game live anymore unless I win tickets to it.

That’s basically everything these days unfortunately. All hail our corporate profit overlords. At least watching games in 4K makes going to games less important

 

[mr figgles]

Friedman mentioned on his pod the cap will go up, but now will probably not see all teams spend to it, this year there is only a handful of teams not right up against the cap, i think that will grow to well more than half the league.

The potential benefit of this will be more trades, as more teams should have space to facilitate trades.

Teams won’t have a choice, because as the cap goes up, so do the players’ demands for their piece of the pie.

 

[SomeDude]

Teams won’t have a choice, because as the cap goes up, so do the players’ demands for their piece of the pie.

If there are no teams willing to meet those demands, then the players prices will go down.

It works both ways.

 

[Larry Hanson]

My sincerest hope is that GMs don't use this new found space to give bloated contracts out to second rate players. I don't want to see guys like Noel Acciari getting $4-5mil because the GM has the space. It would actually be shrewd of all the GMs to leave open room to help better facilitate trades throughout the season and certainly at the TDL.

I was going to also say, this might help a few teams get out of cap hell but I don't think there are many teams in that position. I can only name a handful of "bad deals" that are high dollar and even then, I think the team elects to keep them and just use the additional space as a buffer (Nurse, Huberdeau, etc).

They will, and then those contracts will be used as comparables for future contracts. Teams will be right back in cap hell in 5yrs.

 

[Ghost of Murph]

Bad GMs about to look even worse. Can't wait to see some of the egregious deals given out by the usual suspects.

On the positive side, some of the bad newer long-term contracts will be easier to absorb over the coming years.

Overall, good to see the cap go up appreciably and players getting more. League is healthy and strong.

 

[nerevarine]

Thank the lord Leon signed in summer, though obviously no one wants to leave Edmonton right now. Wouldn't be surprised to see some high profile names (rantanen, marner) look to sign with Edmonton now.

 

[Romang67]

Seems ridiculous to have the cap go up that much that quickly. Didn't the NBA do that and it caused problems?
You'd think they'd want to keep it lower and eliminate the possibility of escrow.

Kevin Durant is about to sign with the Golden Knights.

 

[mr figgles]

If there are no teams willing to meet those demands, then the players prices will go down.

It works both ways.

There will always be teams willing to pay a little more to get the pieces they want.

 

[TGWL]

Some players with 2 years or so left on their deals are licking their chops.

Goalies signed for the next 3 seasons are probably pissed while Igor sipping his Pina Colada.

 

[AvroArrow]

This is phenomenal as a Leafs fan. We got Matthews/Nylander locked up, even the Rielly 7.5M deal is manageable with that big of a projected increase.

We could actually re-sign Marner and still have plenty of money left to round out the roster. He and JT have 22M coming off the books, assuming Marner re-signs for approx. 12.5-13, gives us plenty of space to address the depth and possibly even look at acquiring a true legitimate 1D.

 

[Legion34]

Thank the lord Leon signed in summer, though obviously no one wants to leave Edmonton right now. Wouldn't be surprised to see some high profile names (rantanen, marner) look to sign with Edmonton now.

They literally just had 2 players sign offer sheets

 

[SomeDude]

There will always be teams willing to pay a little more to get the pieces they want.

Yes and once those teams get the pieces they want, there will likely be many teams with an internal budget under the cap.

 

[robertmac43]

This coming out within the week Rantanen was traded is wild.

 

[Soundwave]

They literally just had 2 players sign offer sheets

Because of money issues, Holloway himself even said he did not want to leave. Most players don't want to leave a team that just made the Finals, not sure why that is News At 11 to anyone.

 

[TGWL]

Might benefit Vancouver here with teams calling the Miller contract risky. Shouldn't be too hard to fit that going forward.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

This seems like a prelude to a team making a couple monster signings with the expectation that the cap was going to explode only for the growth to be far more modest, a la the Hawks on the eve of the Toews/Kane $10.5m deals.

 

[MakoSlade]

That is a pretty high floor, is it not? Players with a high cap hit and low real money hit will be a premium for some cheap owners!

 

[Koivu11]

 

[ExarKun80]

McJesus is going to get 20m/year on his next contract in 2026.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Everybody better get their minds ready for some big numbers for some unexpected names.

 

[RedHawkDown]

Well those Raymond/Seider contracts look great now.

 

[SEALBound]

They will, and then those contracts will be used as comparables for future contracts. Teams will be right back in cap hell in 5yrs.

I would also support keeping the cap floor at the same level or even a bit lower. Look at some of the deals Chicago had to give out. Foligno and Perry both at $4mil I believe? Granted they are short term and serve a purpose, but I'd rather not see a team have to do that because they have to reach the floor. Especially true if they have younger RFAs they want to play. Yeah, I guess you can sign Perry for $4-5mil and HS him but it begs the question "what are we really going here".

 

[Paper]

That is a pretty high floor, is it not? Players with a high cap hit and low real money hit will be a premium for some cheap owners!

Teams wishing they got on Saad's next year 4.5M cap hit, 3M actual payment contract train now!

 

[centipede2233]

A Florida panther dynasty is comming….all of their players are locked I. To atleast 2030 and bob’s contract comes off after next year. Better get your cup this year or next before florida becomes a monster