Gary Bettman, commissioner of the National Hockey League (NHL), estimates that league teams’ salary costs could rise to “between $87 and $88 million” next season.
Bettman said at a news conference Wednesday that “very preliminary” discussions about the salary cap have been initiated. However, this would be a significant increase as clubs have $83.5 million at their disposal this season.
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In 2023-24, the NHL offered general managers an additional $1 million. The modest increase was attributed to the existence of escrow accounts, meaning players still owe money to teams due to lost revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to various sources, including the Sportsnet network, Bettman also indicated that the NHL has no plans to expand in the short term. However, he would receive interest from multiple markets.