NHL Salary Cap By Team
| Team | Projected Cap Hit |
Projected Space |
Current Space |
Dead Space |
Active Roster |
Retained Left |
Contracts | Forwards | Defense | Goalies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western | Central | $76,637,500$76.64M | $11,362,500$11.36M |
$11,362,500$11.36M |
$-6,125,000$-6.13M | 13/23 |
|
29/50 | 60%
|
29%
|
5%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $56,126,806$56.13M | $31,873,194$31.87M |
$31,873,194$31.87M |
$1,588,889$1.59M | 13/23 |
|
32/50 | 39%
|
16%
|
6%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $62,975,833$62.98M | $25,024,167$25.02M |
$25,024,167$25.02M |
$1,383,333$1.38M | 16/23 |
|
33/50 | 40%
|
27%
|
3%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $82,175,000$82.18M | $5,825,000$5.83M |
$5,825,000$5.83M |
- | 19/23 |
|
37/50 | 54%
|
26%
|
13%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $61,765,833$61.77M | $26,234,167$26.23M |
$26,234,167$26.23M |
- | 16/23 |
|
32/50 | 39%
|
25%
|
6%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $74,304,857$74.30M | $13,695,143$13.70M |
$13,695,143$13.70M |
$512,500$513K | 17/23 |
|
38/50 | 51%
|
25%
|
8%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $77,254,339$77.25M | $10,745,661$10.75M |
$10,745,661$10.75M |
$2,479,167$2.48M | 18/23 |
|
37/50 | 47%
|
29%
|
9%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $68,294,667$68.29M | $19,705,333$19.71M |
$19,705,333$19.71M |
- | 15/23 |
|
34/50 | 63%
|
14%
|
1%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $77,474,048$77.47M | $10,525,952$10.53M |
$10,525,952$10.53M |
$1,225,000$1.23M | 17/23 |
|
34/50 | 47%
|
31%
|
9%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $65,406,072$65.41M | $22,593,928$22.59M |
$22,593,928$22.59M |
- | 14/23 |
|
27/50 | 38%
|
35%
|
1%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $78,561,251$78.56M | $9,438,749$9.44M |
$9,438,749$9.44M |
$5,266,250$5.27M | 20/23 |
|
42/50 | 53%
|
14%
|
17%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $87,196,430$87.20M | $803,571$804K |
$803,571$804K |
$9,333,096$9.33M | 20/23 |
|
43/50 | 56%
|
28%
|
5%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $72,726,397$72.73M | $15,273,603$15.27M |
$15,273,603$15.27M |
$1,788,897$1.79M | 18/23 |
|
35/50 | 52%
|
22%
|
7%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $69,408,334$69.41M | $18,591,666$18.59M |
$18,591,666$18.59M |
$1,741,667$1.74M | 15/23 |
|
32/50 | 41%
|
20%
|
16%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $86,853,334$86.85M | $1,146,666$1.15M |
$1,146,666$1.15M |
$6,152,500$6.15M | 20/23 |
|
33/50 | 61%
|
29%
|
2%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $73,207,262$73.21M | $14,792,738$14.79M |
$14,792,738$14.79M |
- | 18/23 |
|
43/50 | 47%
|
29%
|
8%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $83,535,000$83.54M | $4,465,000$4.47M |
$4,465,000$4.47M |
- | 19/23 |
|
36/50 | 48%
|
36%
|
12%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $65,725,834$65.73M | $22,274,166$22.27M |
$22,274,166$22.27M |
$1,875,000$1.88M | 20/23 |
|
33/50 | 53%
|
17%
|
3%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $47,925,893$47.93M | $40,074,107$40.07M |
$40,074,107$40.07M |
$2,253,334$2.25M | 15/23 |
|
27/50 | 37%
|
10%
|
5%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $71,753,741$71.75M | $16,246,259$16.25M |
$16,246,259$16.25M |
$2,595,407$2.60M | 13/23 |
|
33/50 | 54%
|
20%
|
5%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $59,177,504$59.18M | $28,822,496$28.82M |
$28,822,496$28.82M |
$7,374,170$7.37M | 20/23 |
|
37/50 | 30%
|
22%
|
7%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $55,060,000$55.06M | $32,940,000$32.94M |
$32,940,000$32.94M |
$3,166,667$3.17M | 16/23 |
|
32/50 | 31%
|
22%
|
6%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $65,325,000$65.33M | $22,675,000$22.68M |
$22,675,000$22.68M |
$4,575,000$4.58M | 14/23 |
|
29/50 | 36%
|
26%
|
7%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $77,966,667$77.97M | $10,033,333$10.03M |
$10,033,333$10.03M |
$5,466,667$5.47M | 14/23 |
|
30/50 | 45%
|
29%
|
9%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $54,694,167$54.69M | $33,305,833$33.31M |
$33,305,833$33.31M |
- | 17/23 |
|
36/50 | 40%
|
14%
|
8%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $70,996,667$71.00M | $17,003,333$17.00M |
$17,003,333$17.00M |
$2,346,667$2.35M | 16/23 |
|
37/50 | 47%
|
25%
|
6%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $61,654,199$61.65M | $26,345,801$26.35M |
$26,345,801$26.35M |
$11,805,556$11.81M | 15/23 |
|
34/50 | 32%
|
19%
|
6%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $79,358,690$79.36M | $8,641,310$8.64M |
$8,641,310$8.64M |
$2,750,000$2.75M | 18/23 |
|
33/50 | 50%
|
28%
|
10%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $81,743,590$81.74M | $6,256,410$6.26M |
$6,256,410$6.26M |
$15,168,590$15.17M | 20/23 |
|
35/50 | 47%
|
22%
|
7%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $66,325,000$66.33M | $21,675,000$21.68M |
$21,675,000$21.68M |
$891,667$892K | 17/23 |
|
33/50 | 36%
|
31%
|
7%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $86,802,483$86.80M | $1,197,517$1.20M |
$1,197,517$1.20M |
- | 20/23 |
|
39/50 | 52%
|
34%
|
12%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $65,473,334$65.47M | $22,526,666$22.53M |
$22,526,666$22.53M |
- | 16/23 |
|
36/50 | 41%
|
26%
|
8%
|
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| Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Atlantic Division | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Metropolitan Division | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Central Division | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pacific Division | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NHL News
Signings
Trades
The San Jose Sharks acquired Jake Walman and a 2024 2nd round pick (#53) from the Detroit Red Wings for future considerations
The Nashville Predators acquired Andrew Gibson from the Detroit Red Wings for Jesse Kiiskinen and a 2024 2nd round pick (#53)
The Ottawa Senators acquired Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins for Joonas Korpisalo, Mark Kastelic, and a 2024 1st round pick (#25)
Transactions
Back signed a one-year, two-way contract with Dallas on Tuesday.
San Jose acquired Walman and a 2024 second-round pick from Detroit on Tuesday in exchange for future considerations.
Detroit acquired Kiiskinen and a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft from Nashville on Tuesday in exchange for Andrew Gibson.
Kolyachonok signed a two-year contract with Utah on Tuesday.
Mittelstadt signed a three-year, $17.25 million deal with Colorado on Tuesday.
DeMelo inked a four-year, $19.6 million contract with Winnipeg on Tuesday.
Bongiovanni agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract with Ottawa on Tuesday.
Injuries
Tanev is recovering from a tendon injury, Mike Heika of the Dallas Stars' official site reports Friday.
Couturier said he's recovering from a "little sports hernia surgery, lower abs," Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reports Thursday.
Drysdale underwent surgery in April to address a significant lower-body injury, Adam Kimelman of NHL.com reports.
Vesey suffered a separated shoulder in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Florida Panthers, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports.
Stecher is slated to have ankle surgery at some point this summer, per Jason Gregor of Sports 1440 Edmonton.
Lehkonen is expected to undergo a shoulder procedure according to general manager Chris MacFarland, Brennan Vogt of The-Rink.com reports Thursday.
Pospisil (upper body) will miss the remainder of the 2024 IIHF World Championship, per Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun.
Insights and Insiders
What Is the NHL Salary Cap?
The NHL salary cap is the total amount that NHL teams may pay for players. The amount set as the salary cap each year depends on the league’s revenue for the previous season. As it is a 'hard cap,' there are no exemptions. However, if a player is injured and it's thought that they will miss at least 10 NHL games and 24 days in the season, their team can put them on long-term injured reserve (LTIR). By doing so, they can surpass the salary cap.
The salary cap was introduced to prevent teams with the most revenue signing all the top players, which was becoming a problem in the '90s and early 2000s. For instance, by signing a number of top-performing players and significantly spending more than the majority of other teams, the Detroit Red Wings were able to win three Stanley Cups in that time.
This led to the 2004-05 CBA negotiations, during which the entire season was cancelled — the first time a labor dispute has ever caused a cancellation in a major sports league in North America. At the time of the negotiations, teams were spending around 75 percent of their revenues on salaries — much higher than any other North American sports league. Eventually, they agreed to the general structure that remain today, including the mandatory payment to players in US dollars.
The concept of a salary cap is not new to the NHL. One was first introduced during the Great Depression, at which time the salary cap per team was $62,500 and $7,000 per player.
Salary Cap History
Since its reintroduction in the 2005-06 season, the NHL salary cap had risen every year until the pandemic shortened 2020-2021 season:
| 2005-2006 | $39.0 million |
| 2006-2007 | $44.0 million |
| 2007-2008 | $50.3 million |
| 2008-2009 | $56.7 million |
| 2009-2010 | $56.8 million |
| 2010-2011 | $59.4 million |
| 2011-2012 | $64.3 million |
| 2012-2013 | $60.0 million * |
| 2013-2014 | $64.3 million |
| 2014-2015 | $69.0 million |
| 2015-2016 | $71.4 million |
| 2016-2017 | $73.0 million |
| 2017-2018 | $75.0 million |
| 2018-2019 | $79.5 million |
| 2019-2020 | $81.5 million |
| 2020-2021 | $81.5 million |
| 2021-2022 | $81.5 million |
| 2022-2023 | $82.5 million |
* During the 2012-13 season, there was a lockout. The salary cap was set to $60 million, but NHL hockey teams were allowed to spend a pro-rated $70.2 million for the shortened season.
The salary floor (the minimum that a team must spend as a whole) is 85 percent of the salary midpoint. For the 2021-22 season, the cap floor is $60.2 million.
History of the Teams
Originally, there were just six NHL teams, called the Original Six. In the 1967-68 season, six new teams were added. The Original Six formed the East Division and the new six formed the West Division.
In 1974, six more NHL hockey teams joined the league, creating 18 in total. The league then took four teams from the World Hockey Association when it ceased to exist in 1979. With the Cleveland Barons gone in 1978, this brought the total to 21 teams.
There was no further expansion to the league until the '90s. The next new NHL team was the San Jose Sharks in 1991. Another eight were added in the subsequent decade to reach 30 teams by 2000. Finally, in 2016, Gary Bettman, the NHL commissioner, announced that another new NHL team — the Vegas Golden Knights — would join the List of NHL Teams, making 31 teams for the 2017-18 season.
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