The payroll of National Hockey League (NHL) teams could increase significantly after the 2023-2024 season, which would be a year earlier than forecast.
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The pandemic has considerably slowed the progression of the salary cap in recent years. The squad nevertheless increased by $1 million for 2022-2023 – to settle at $82.5 million – and a significant increase had been projected for the 2024-2025 post-season.
“I’ve seen the preliminary estimates, which make me more optimistic about the cap being raised sooner, whether it’s two or three years from now. I think it’s more likely to be less than three seasons than more,” NHL Assistant Commissioner Bill Daly told Sportsnet on Wednesday.
The most significant recent increase was recorded in 2018, when the payroll rose from $75 million to $79.5 million. In the past three campaigns, the cap has instead remained frozen at $81.5 million.
Since 2005-2006, the amount of money awarded to NHL teams has increased every year, except during the campaign cut short by the lockout of 2012-2013.