It’s time for another edition of NHL rumours. We’re just into the second month of the season. However, we’re already thinking about the upcoming 2025-26 season. It’s always a tough balancing act with the salary cap for general managers. Players are always looking to get better deals, but management has to put together the best possible team in the most cost-effective fashion. The salary cap is projected to go up to $92.5 million at this time. However, that may just be a preliminary number. Today’s NHL rumours deals with a possible bigger than expected jump in the cap.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
2025-25 NHL Salary Cap Could Get Massive Jump
Rumour: On Saturday night’s Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada, Elliotte Friedman said that salary cap could have a larger than estimated jump. The Sportsnet insider said that cap could leap as high as $95 million to $97 million for next season.
This week's Saturday Headlines from the man himself, @FriedgeHNIC. 📰 pic.twitter.com/CTFOdZda6W
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 17, 2024
Analysis: The league has seemingly gotten more revenue and this is good news for the players. Early salary cap projections had the cap going from $88 million to $92.5 million next season. However, projections might be better than anyone expected.
The league and NHL Players Association have a 5-percent maximum rise per the collective bargaining agreement. However, that number can go up if both sides agree to it.
The raise to $95 million to $97 million would mean a jump of eight to 10.2-percent over the current number. Friedman mentioned the limit on raising the cap number were “guardrails” put in place from the last CBA during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the NHL seems to be doing good business at the moment.
What It Means
An increased cap number means that teams could be able to keep some of their important star players. There are a number of high-profile deals that are coming up in this off-season and next.
The New York Rangers are in tough contract talks with goalie Igor Shesterkin. In previous editions of NHL rumours, we’ve seen information that the Russian netminder wants the largest deal at his position. An increased cap number would give Rangers General Manager Chris Drury more wiggle room to get Shesterkin a deal north of $11-plus million.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner might be able to get a bigger deal if he wants to re-sign with the club. However, he could also seek to break the bank with another team that wants to give him more than the $10.903 million that he’s currently getting.
Other deals like Connor McDavid and Kirill Kaprizov are coming up after next season. However, both players can ink new contract extensions of July 1, 2025. McDavid will probably get more than Edmonton Oilers teammate Leon Draisaitl, who will start his $14 million per season deal next year.
Kaprizov is making $9 million and will wrap up his deal at the end of the 2025-26 season. Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold has already stated that the team won’t be outbid for the Russian star’s services. Hearing the cap number could go up more will have ramifications that will be felt throughout the NHL.
Main photo by: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
