Minimum NHL Salary & Buried Cap Hit

The minimum NHL Salary is set in the CBA (11.12.a) and is as follows:

2012-13 – U.S. $525,000
2013-14 – U.S. $550,000
2014-15 – U.S. $550,000
2015-16 – U.S. $575,000
2016-17 – U.S. $575,000
2017-18 – U.S. $650,000
2018-19 – U.S. $650,000

2019-20 – U.S. $700,000
2020-21 – U.S. $700,000
2021-22 – U.S. $750,000

The NHL & NHLPA MOU signed in July 2020 outlines the additional minimum salary:

2022-23 – U.S. $750,000
2023-24 – U.S. $775,000
2024-25 – U.S. $775,000
2025-26 – U.S. $775,000

The amount of Cap Relief that a team gets from assigning a player to the AHL is the lesser of their Cap Hit and the NHL Minimum Salary + $375,000 (Buried Threshold).  Therefore, if a player with a Cap Hit less than the Buried Threshold is sent down, their full Cap Hit no longer counts on the Team's total cap hit.  If a player has a Cap Hit greater than the Buried Threshold, if they are sent to AHL the team's Cap Hit is the player Cap Hit - Buried Threshold.  The Buried Threshold is as follows:

2012-13: $525,000 + $375,000 = $900,000

2013-14: $550,000 + $375,000 = $925,000

2014-15: $550,000 + $375,000 = $925,000

2015-16: $575,000 + $375,000 = $950,000

2016-17: $575,000 + $375,000 = $950,000

2017-18: $650,000 + $375,000 = $1,025,000

2018-19: $650,000 + $375,000 = $1,025,000

2019-20: $700,000 + $375,000 = $1,075,000

2020-21: $700,000 + $375,000 = $1,075,000

2021-22: $750,000 + $375,000 = $1,125,000

2022-23: $750,000 + $375,000 = $1,125,000

2023-24: $775,000 + $375,000 = $1,150,000

2024-25: $775,000 + $375,000 = $1,150,000

2025-26: $775,000 + $375,000 = $1,150,000