Multiple teams already over the salary cap for next season
The NHL's salary cap is always a bone of contention. Hockey is one of the only major sports where you fans are aware of what almost every player on their team is making. The hard cap has even taken away from the idea that it is possible to build a dynasty through anything other than bottoming out and drafting a top young star.
This past summer the NHL announced that the cap would be climbing slightly to $82,500,000 for next year, before climbing another $1,000,000 the year after. The salary cap was expected to be in the $90,000,000 range by the end of next season, but the COVID-19 pandemic put an end to that. Due to the salary cap freeze the NHL has seen multiple teams, who expected the cap to rise, pushed into cap strapped situations. These teams have been forced to move pieces or bargain shop for solutions.
Today Cap Friendly updated their system and shifted their salary cap numbers from the 2021-2022 season to the 2022-2023 season. This provided a snapshot of what next season's cap situations for teams look like.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are currently $1,973,333 over next year's cap, while the Montreal Canadiens are also $171,309 over the cap. The Golden Knights are also likely over the cap with only $200,000 in cap space, once bonuses are taken into account it is likely the Knights will face a cap penalty for the following season. The Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers round out the list of teams with the least amount of cap space for next season. The Buffalo Sabres are on the opposite of the coin as they currently own $43,122,499 in cap space for next year.
I think we can all agree there is a likely better solution for the NHL and their cap situation as they look to move forward as a top league in North America.
| POLL | ||
Should the NHL get rid of the salary cap? | ||
| No, it keeps teams competitive | 183 | 54.6 % |
| Yes, but make it a luxury tax | 104 | 31 % |
| Yes, no salary cap at all | 48 | 14.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
