Rumblings: Latest on cap, expansion and outdoor games
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman gave an update on salary cap, expansion and outdoor games after the board of governors meeting in Columbus.
www.espn.comI don’t have live access right now to pull the very latest headlines, but here’s the latest widely reported context on NHL salary cap up to early 2025:
- The NHL salary cap for 2024-25 was set at $88 million, up from $83.5 million the previous season, marking a substantial step higher after several years of slow growth. This was the league’s largest single-season increase in several years and reflected improving league revenues and escrow outcomes.[2][5]
- Projections around 2025-26 indicated the cap could rise again, with discussions between the league and the Players’ Association about further increases tied to revenue performance and escrow status, though exact final numbers depended on collective bargaining outcomes and season revenue results.[2]
- Outlook through 2026-27 and beyond has been discussed in news outlets as moving toward potentially mid-to-high double-digit annual increases if revenues and escrow trends remained favorable, but concrete figures were contingent on the then-current CBA and formal approvals.[3]
If you’d like, I can fetch the latest statements from NHL.com, credible sports outlets, and the NHL Players’ Association to give you a current, cited snapshot with the exact numbers for the upcoming season. I can also summarize how the cap inched up in recent years and what that implies for team payrolls and free agency.