Report: NHL salary cap could increase more than expected
The NHL salary cap, originally projected to move up to $73 million for the 2017-18 season, might just be making a bigger jump.
The NHL salary cap might be taking a bigger jump than what was previously expected. Extremely reliable sources like CapFriendly reported the 2017-18 NHL salary cap to jump up to roughly $73 million. Reports are coming out that this number could make an even bigger jump, moving up to $77 million.
This has not been set in stone yet, as the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association will discuss details next week. This could be a saving grace for one of the most cap-strapped teams in the NHL, the Chicago Blackhawks, who are currently at a $77.5 million cap hit.
This will also be a big enough jump that multiple organizations can put their respect worries to bed. For instance, a team like the Columbus Blue Jackets, who was previously expected to have only $2.9 million in cap space would now have $6.9 million, allowing them to sign Alex Wennberg, Josh Anderson, Sam Gagner, and Joonas Korpisalo.
The Blue Jackets wouldn’t be the only benefactor to this increase in the NHL salary cap. As previously mentioned, the Chicago Blackhawks are currently sitting with a cap hit of $77.5 million, and with the increase would see themselves being only $500,000 over the cap ceiling, and not $4.5 million. This would mean the upcoming NHL off-season would be vastly less stressful and tense for them than previously expected.
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There is no word on what kind of jump the cap floor would make if the cap ceiling does rise to $77 million. It wouldn’t be anything significant but could be enough to see teams like Nashville, Vancouver, Colorado, and Winnipeg fall below the expected floor, joining the eight teams currently there (not including the Vegas Golden Knights).
More information will follow next week, when the NHL and NHLPA meet.