The NHL is predicting a large increase in the salary cap over the next three seasons, according to a memo the league and the NHL Players’ Association sent to teams on Friday.
The memo shows that the salary cap for the 2025-26 season will rise to $95.5 million, with a minimum of $70.6 million. In 2026-27, it is expected to reach $104 million with a minimum of $76.9 million, and in 2027-28, it is projected to go up to $113.5 million with a minimum of $83.9 million.
The current salary cap is $88 million, with a minimum of $65 million. The increase in the salary cap follows the NHL’s strong performance after the pandemic, which had kept the cap mostly flat for several years.
Last season, the league set a record with $6.2 billion in revenue, alongside new attendance and sponsorship records, boosted by the growing acceptance of sports betting, helmet decals, and the increasing visibility of individual players.
The memo mentioned there might be small adjustments to the 2026-27 and 2027-28 salary caps, but both sides hope the numbers stay as projected, barring unexpected circumstances.
The early release of these projections has been a big help to NHL teams, allowing them to plan ahead for the March 7 trade deadline and the upcoming free agency period.
This comes at an important time for the NHL and the players’ association, as formal CBA talks are expected to start next month. The current agreement was made during the pandemic and will expire in September 2026. Many NHL players shared that their main concern for the next CBA is securing a larger share of the league’s revenue.
Both sides are hoping for a smooth negotiation, with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman expressing his hope to announce a CBA extension by June’s Stanley Cup Final.
