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 | $90,751,471$90.75M | $-2,751,471$-2.75M |
$6,055,000$6.06M |
$-6,125,000$-6.13M | 22/23 |
|
45/50 | 69%
|
35%
|
6%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $87,491,710$87.49M | $508,290$508K |
$548,268$548K |
$5,188,889$5.19M | 23/23 |
|
48/50 | 60%
|
29%
|
4%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $87,593,883$87.59M | $406,117$406K |
$438,058$438K |
$1,383,333$1.38M | 23/23 |
|
45/50 | 52%
|
34%
|
13%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $87,053,320$87.05M | $946,680$947K |
$1,021,138$1.02M |
$1,850,000$1.85M | 21/23 |
|
47/50 | 57%
|
27%
|
13%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $87,266,219$87.27M | $733,781$734K |
$791,494$791K |
- | 21/23 |
|
45/50 | 60%
|
33%
|
6%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $88,249,367$88.25M | $-249,367$-249K |
$471,666$472K |
$512,500$513K | 22/23 |
|
46/50 | 57%
|
35%
|
8%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $87,915,247$87.92M | $84,753$85K |
$91,419$91K |
$3,737,448$3.74M | 23/23 |
|
48/50 | 53%
|
33%
|
10%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $93,183,940$93.18M | $-5,183,940$-5.18M |
$336,667$337K |
$76,562$77K | 23/23 |
|
47/50 | 72%
|
30%
|
5%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $87,867,538$87.87M | $132,462$132K |
$142,880$143K |
$1,463,151$1.46M | 23/23 |
|
47/50 | 58%
|
31%
|
9%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $81,712,182$81.71M | $6,287,818$6.29M |
$6,782,365$6.78M |
$1,444,444$1.44M | 23/23 |
|
43/50 | 44%
|
41%
|
6%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $91,113,230$91.11M | $-3,113,230$-3.11M |
$6,505,833$6.51M |
$5,291,250$5.29M | 23/23 |
|
45/50 | 65%
|
16%
|
17%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $85,847,106$85.85M | $2,152,894$2.15M |
$2,322,223$2.32M |
$11,691,429$11.69M | 22/23 |
|
45/50 | 48%
|
31%
|
5%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $87,316,833$87.32M | $683,167$683K |
$736,899$737K |
$1,970,355$1.97M | 21/23 |
|
46/50 | 61%
|
29%
|
7%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $88,214,623$88.21M | $-214,623$-215K |
$420,000$420K |
$1,807,878$1.81M | 22/23 |
|
46/50 | 60%
|
22%
|
16%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $98,665,965$98.67M | $-10,665,965$-10.67M |
$3,869,166$3.87M |
$3,165,000$3.17M | 23/23 |
|
49/50 | 72%
|
34%
|
2%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $88,395,542$88.40M | $-395,542$-396K |
$5,224,166$5.22M |
- | 23/23 |
|
50/50 | 57%
|
36%
|
8%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $87,381,667$87.38M | $618,333$618K |
$666,966$667K |
- | 22/23 |
|
42/50 | 58%
|
30%
|
12%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $70,132,057$70.13M | $17,867,943$17.87M |
$19,273,286$19.27M |
$1,875,000$1.88M | 22/23 |
|
47/50 | 54%
|
20%
|
3%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $80,372,351$80.37M | $7,627,649$7.63M |
$8,227,576$8.23M |
$2,253,334$2.25M | 23/23 |
|
46/50 | 43%
|
40%
|
5%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $86,523,199$86.52M | $1,476,801$1.48M |
$1,592,954$1.59M |
$3,378,740$3.38M | 21/23 |
|
45/50 | 58%
|
31%
|
6%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $80,810,333$80.81M | $7,189,667$7.19M |
$7,755,146$7.76M |
$8,990,923$8.99M | 23/23 |
|
48/50 | 49%
|
26%
|
7%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $83,853,595$83.85M | $4,146,405$4.15M |
$4,472,526$4.47M |
$3,166,667$3.17M | 23/23 |
|
43/50 | 49%
|
33%
|
10%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $89,010,626$89.01M | $-1,010,626$-1.01M |
$9,400,000$9.40M |
$4,575,000$4.58M | 23/23 |
|
44/50 | 54%
|
34%
|
8%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $86,949,894$86.95M | $1,050,106$1.05M |
$1,132,699$1.13M |
$6,673,781$6.67M | 21/23 |
|
44/50 | 59%
|
28%
|
4%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $68,318,269$68.32M | $19,681,731$19.68M |
$21,229,733$21.23M |
$955,000$955K | 23/23 |
|
46/50 | 46%
|
21%
|
9%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $87,614,037$87.61M | $385,963$386K |
$416,319$416K |
$3,559,167$3.56M | 23/23 |
|
48/50 | 58%
|
30%
|
8%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $84,047,750$84.05M | $3,952,250$3.95M |
$4,263,101$4.26M |
$7,805,556$7.81M | 23/23 |
|
45/50 | 48%
|
32%
|
7%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $86,039,316$86.04M | $1,960,684$1.96M |
$2,114,895$2.11M |
$5,466,667$5.47M | 23/23 |
|
42/50 | 54%
|
27%
|
11%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $87,331,420$87.33M | $668,580$669K |
$721,165$721K |
$15,426,793$15.43M | 23/23 |
|
46/50 | 50%
|
24%
|
7%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $66,942,265$66.94M | $21,057,735$21.06M |
$22,713,961$22.71M |
$2,839,844$2.84M | 22/23 |
|
44/50 | 33%
|
32%
|
7%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $87,557,510$87.56M | $442,490$442K |
$477,292$477K |
$59,975$60K | 23/23 |
|
48/50 | 57%
|
35%
|
8%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $87,991,677$87.99M | $8,323$8K |
$8,977$9K |
- | 20/23 |
|
44/50 | 61%
|
31%
|
8%
|
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| Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Atlantic Division | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Metropolitan Division | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Central Division | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pacific Division | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NHL News
Signings
Trades
The Vancouver Canucks acquired Erik Brannstrom from the Colorado Avalanche for Tucker Poolman and 2025 4th Round Pick
The San Jose Sharks acquired Yaroslav Askarov, Nolan Burke, and a 2025 3rd round pick from the Nashville Predators for Magnus Chrona, David Edstrom, and a 2025 1st round pick
Transactions
Fleury was called up from AHL Coachella Valley on Monday.
Dunn (upper body) was placed on long-term injured reserve Monday.
Wagner was sent down to AHL Colorado on Monday.
Greaves was reassigned to AHL Cleveland on Monday.
O'Reilly agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract with Edmonton on Monday.
Robertsson (upper body) was activated from the injured non-roster list and loaned to AHL Springfield on Monday.
Highmore (upper body) was placed on waivers by Ottawa on Monday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Injuries
Duclair (leg) is dealing with a long-term injury, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports Monday.
Olofsson (lower body) was labeled week-to-week by coach Bruce Cassidy on Monday.
Kuemper (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Saturday by the Los Angeles Kings.
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:
| Season | Salary Cap | Salary Floor | Buried Relief |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-2006 | $39,000,000 $39.00M | $23,000,000 $23.00M | $0 $0K |
| 2006-2007 | $44,000,000 $44.00M | $28,000,000 $28.00M | $0 $0K |
| 2007-2008 | $50,300,000 $50.30M | $34,300,000 $34.30M | $0 $0K |
| 2008-2009 | $56,700,000 $56.70M | $40,700,000 $40.70M | $0 $0K |
| 2009-2010 | $56,800,000 $56.80M | $40,800,000 $40.80M | $0 $0K |
| 2010-2011 | $59,400,000 $59.40M | $43,400,000 $43.40M | $0 $0K |
| 2011-2012 | $64,300,000 $64.30M | $48,300,000 $48.30M | $0 $0K |
| 2012-2013 | $60,000,000 $60.00M * | $44,000,000 $44.00M | $0 $0K |
| 2013-2014 | $64,300,000 $64.30M | $47,500,000 $47.50M | $0 $0K |
| 2014-2015 | $69,000,000 $69.00M | $51,000,000 $51.00M | $0 $0K |
| 2015-2016 | $71,400,000 $71.40M | $52,800,000 $52.80M | $0 $0K |
| 2016-2017 | $73,000,000 $73.00M | $54,000,000 $54.00M | $0 $0K |
| 2017-2018 | $75,000,000 $75.00M | $55,400,000 $55.40M | $1,025,000 $1.03M |
| 2018-2019 | $79,500,000 $79.50M | $55,400,000 $55.40M | $1,025,000 $1.03M |
| 2019-2020 | $81,500,000 $81.50M | $60,240,000 $60.24M | $1,075,000 $1.08M |
| 2020-2021 | $81,500,000 $81.50M | $60,200,000 $60.20M | $1,075,000 $1.08M |
| 2021-2022 | $81,500,000 $81.50M | $60,200,000 $60.20M | $1,125,000 $1.13M |
| 2022-2023 | $82,500,000 $82.50M | $61,000,000 $61.00M | $1,125,000 $1.13M |
| 2023-2024 | $83,500,000 $83.50M | $61,700,000 $61.70M | $1,150,000 $1.15M |
| 2024-2025 | $88,000,000 $88.00M | $65,000,000 $65.00M | $1,150,000 $1.15M |
* During the 2012-13 season, there was a lockout. The salary cap was set to $6000000, but NHL hockey teams were allowed to spend a pro-rated $70.200000 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 $60.200000.
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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