At Least 11 Teams Will Carry a Performance Bonus Overage Cap Hit in 2025-26

PuckPedia Exclusive - Preliminary Bonus Overage Cap Hits for 25-26

The NHL salary cap finally saw a meaningful jump this offseason, rising by $4.5 million to $88 million for the 2024-25 season — the first significant increase in years. While teams have welcomed the extra breathing room, the effects of years of a stagnant cap still linger across much of the league.

This season (2024-25), 20 of the NHL’s 32 teams used Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) to exceed the cap, either temporarily or for extended stretches. While that’s a slight dip from the record-setting 22 teams the year before, it is still the second highest total historically. 40% of teams ended the season with a final cap hit above the $88 million ceiling.

One of the consequences of finishing over the cap via LTIR is the triggering of performance bonus overages. When players earn performance bonuses and their team finishes the season over the salary cap, those bonuses are carried over as a cap charge to the following season.

Under the Salary Cap rules outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), only certain types of players are eligible for performance bonuses: 

1. Players on their Entry Level Contracts (ELC’s)
2. Players that are 35 or older and sign a 1-year contract
3. Veteran Players that have missed considerable time due to injury and sign a 1-year contract

At the conclusion of the season, any performance bonuses earned are added to the team’s final cap hit. If that total exceeds the cap ($88 million), the excess becomes a performance bonus carryover overage cap charge applied to the next season.

Overage Charges in 2025-26

As a result of the 2024-25 season, at least 11 teams (12 if Ryan Leonard wins the Conn Smythe for Washington) will incur a bonus overage cap charge for next season.  While still notable, this is a drop from previous seasons:

• 2023-24: 15 teams had a bonus overage (a league record)
• 2022-23: 14 teams
• 2024-25:  12 teams

Here’s a look at the teams that will have an overage for the 2025-26 season:

The St. Louis Blues will carry the league’s largest bonus overage into 2025-26 at $2.153 million — though that’s still below last season’s high mark of $3.45 million, set by the Edmonton Oilers. Ryan Suter earned his full $2.225 million in bonuses based on games played and playoff qualification, while Zach Bolduc added $212.5K for plus-minus. St. Louis ended the season with $284K in cap space, leaving the rest to roll over as an overage.

Montreal, a frequent overage team due to both Carey Price’s LTIR status and a steady stream of entry-level players with bonuses, has a projected $1.727 million overage — up from $1.022 million last year. Notable bonus earners include: likely Calder winner Lane Hutson maxing out his $750K in potential “A” bonuses, former first overall pick Slafkovsky earning $500K in A” bonuses for Time on Ice and +/-, Guhle maxing out his $420K in potential “A” bonuses, and Struble earning $57.5K in games played bonuses.  Late season addition Ivan Demidov earned $25K for 5 playoff games played.

Minnesota will carry a $1.1 million overage, driven by Marco Rossi ($850K) and Brock Faber ($250K) each hitting their full “A” bonus thresholds. That’s up from $637.5K last season. The number could grow slightly if Zeev Buium plays 5 playoff games or wins the Conn Smythe, each triggering a $25K bonus.

The New Jersey Devils face a $1 million overage, all due to Luke Hughes maxing out his "A" bonuses — slightly down from last year’s $1.56 million total.

Interestingly, Detroit is the only team with an overage that did not use LTIR during the season. They had $2.888 million in bonuses earned, offset by $2.02 million in cap space, resulting in an $871K overage. Patrick Kane earned $1.75 million of his potential $2.5 million in age-35+ bonuses (games played, but not playoffs). Simon Edvinsson ($638K) earned 3 “A” bonus categories while Marco Kasper ($500K) hit two.

Toronto, a team that rarely includes bonuses, made an exception for Max Pacioretty, who earned $626K in games played bonuses — all of which will count as an overage.

The New York Islanders will carry a $600K overage: Matt Martin hit a $100K games played bonus, and rookie Maxim Tsyplakov earned $500K for ice time and plus-minus performance. He could add $250K more if named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team.

Dallas has a relatively small $368K overage, especially compared to their $2.6 million from last season. This year’s number comes from Wyatt Johnston maxing out his $319K in “A” bonuses, and Logan Stankoven earning $49.5K in games played bonuses before being traded.

The Los Angeles Kings are facing a $212.5K overage after Brandt Clarke earned an "A" bonus for assists — a big drop from last year’s $1.85 million overage.

After leading the league with the highest overage last year ($3.45 million), this year the Edmonton Oilers have one of the smallest overages at $150K, which comes from Corey Perry. He can earn another $100K in potential bonuses; $50K if the Oilers win 2 rounds and Perry plays in either 50% of the Round 2 games or 50% of the total Round 1 and 2 games, and another $50K if they win 3 rounds and Perry plays in either 50% of the Round 3 games or 50% of the total games through Round 3. 

The Carolina Hurricanes likely won’t feel much pain in their overage, which is just $33K due to games played bonuses Stankoven achieved after the trade.  They could face another $5K if Jaaska plays 2 more games, and $1,037,500 if newcomer Nikishin wins the Conn Smythe. 

The Washington Capitals could join the overage list if Ryan Leonard wins the Conn Smythe, which would trigger a $275K bonus.

Four teams finished over the cap but did not pay out any bonuses: Washington (assuming Leonard doesn’t win the Conn Smythe), Colorado Avalanche (second year in a row they have this distinction), Florida Panthers, and the Ottawa Senators.  Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning finished with exactly $0 in cap space but avoided overages thanks to having no bonuses earned.

While at least 11 teams will have part of their 2025-26 cap space eaten up by performance bonus overages, the total league-wide charge is $8.6 million — a significant drop from last year’s $15.6 million.

With the salary cap projected to rise another $7.5 million to $95.5 million next season, teams may finally find some long-awaited relief. That could lead to a decline in both LTIR reliance and bonus overages.

Check out last season’s overages

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