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 | $89,883,092$89.88M | $-1,883,092$-1.88M |
$7,005,000$7.01M |
$-6,125,000$-6.13M | 23/23 |
|
45/50 | 68%
|
35%
|
6%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $86,651,806$86.65M | $1,348,194$1.35M |
$1,376,879$1.38M |
$3,838,889$3.84M | 22/23 |
|
48/50 | 59%
|
25%
|
9%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $87,854,739$87.85M | $145,261$145K |
$148,352$148K |
$1,649,739$1.65M | 22/23 |
|
45/50 | 52%
|
34%
|
13%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $87,787,500$87.79M | $212,500$213K |
$217,021$217K |
$1,850,000$1.85M | 22/23 |
|
47/50 | 58%
|
27%
|
13%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $87,283,728$87.28M | $716,272$716K |
$731,512$732K |
- | 21/23 |
|
45/50 | 61%
|
32%
|
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 | $88,820,715$88.82M | $-820,715$-821K |
- | $3,737,448$3.74M | 22/23 |
|
48/50 | 54%
|
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 | $87,128,866$87.13M | $871,134$871K |
$889,669$890K |
$1,463,151$1.46M | 22/23 |
|
47/50 | 57%
|
31%
|
9%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $81,712,182$81.71M | $6,287,818$6.29M |
$6,421,601$6.42M |
$1,444,444$1.44M | 23/23 |
|
43/50 | 44%
|
41%
|
6%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Atlantic | $91,034,584$91.03M | $-3,034,584$-3.03M |
$6,625,000$6.63M |
$5,291,250$5.29M | 23/23 |
|
45/50 | 66%
|
15%
|
17%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $86,693,981$86.69M | $1,306,019$1.31M |
$1,333,807$1.33M |
$11,691,429$11.69M | 23/23 |
|
45/50 | 48%
|
32%
|
5%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $87,578,141$87.58M | $421,859$422K |
$430,835$431K |
$2,168,141$2.17M | 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 | $87,381,666$87.38M | $618,334$618K |
$631,490$631K |
- | 21/23 |
|
42/50 | 58%
|
30%
|
12%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $70,132,058$70.13M | $17,867,942$17.87M |
$18,248,111$18.25M |
$1,875,000$1.88M | 23/23 |
|
47/50 | 54%
|
20%
|
3%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $79,629,643$79.63M | $8,370,357$8.37M |
$8,548,450$8.55M |
$2,253,334$2.25M | 23/23 |
|
46/50 | 43%
|
40%
|
5%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $85,646,388$85.65M | $2,353,612$2.35M |
$2,403,689$2.40M |
$3,388,054$3.39M | 21/23 |
|
45/50 | 57%
|
31%
|
6%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $79,953,554$79.95M | $8,046,446$8.05M |
$8,217,647$8.22M |
$8,945,220$8.95M | 23/23 |
|
48/50 | 49%
|
25%
|
7%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $83,110,887$83.11M | $4,889,113$4.89M |
$4,993,137$4.99M |
$3,166,667$3.17M | 23/23 |
|
43/50 | 49%
|
32%
|
10%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $88,224,298$88.22M | $-224,298$-224K |
$10,225,000$10.23M |
$4,575,000$4.58M | 23/23 |
|
44/50 | 54%
|
34%
|
7%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $86,949,894$86.95M | $1,050,106$1.05M |
$1,072,449$1.07M |
$6,673,781$6.67M | 21/23 |
|
44/50 | 59%
|
28%
|
4%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $68,314,167$68.31M | $19,685,833$19.69M |
$20,104,680$20.10M |
$955,000$955K | 23/23 |
|
46/50 | 46%
|
21%
|
9%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $87,558,031$87.56M | $441,969$442K |
$451,373$451K |
$3,559,167$3.56M | 23/23 |
|
48/50 | 59%
|
29%
|
8%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $82,512,272$82.51M | $5,487,728$5.49M |
$5,604,488$5.60M |
$7,805,556$7.81M | 21/23 |
|
45/50 | 47%
|
31%
|
7%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $86,039,316$86.04M | $1,960,684$1.96M |
$2,002,401$2.00M |
$5,466,667$5.47M | 22/23 |
|
42/50 | 54%
|
27%
|
11%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Central | $87,438,790$87.44M | $561,210$561K |
$573,151$573K |
$15,426,793$15.43M | 23/23 |
|
46/50 | 50%
|
23%
|
8%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern | Metropolitan | $67,664,010$67.66M | $20,335,990$20.34M |
$20,768,671$20.77M |
$2,839,844$2.84M | 23/23 |
|
44/50 | 34%
|
32%
|
7%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $87,557,510$87.56M | $442,490$442K |
$451,905$452K |
$59,975$60K | 23/23 |
|
48/50 | 57%
|
35%
|
8%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western | Pacific | $87,995,714$88.00M | $4,286$4K |
$4,377$4K |
- | 21/23 |
|
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
Nosek (upper body) was transferred to long-term injured reserve on Friday, per PuckPedia.
Giles was called up by the Florida Panthers on Friday, per Colby Guy of The Palm Beach Post.
Andrae was recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday, per the NHL media site.
Seeler was placed on injured reserve Friday, retroactive to Oct. 1.
Lavoie was assigned to AHL Henderson on Friday since the Vegas Golden Knights were the only team to submit a waiver claim for him, per PuckPedia reports.
Lavoie was claimed off waivers by Vegas from Edmonton on Friday, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Mitchell was placed on waivers by the Boston Bruins on Friday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Injuries
Petry (upper body) was not on the ice for Friday's practice session, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Chisholm (illness) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Seattle Kraken. Even if he ends up being unavailable Saturday, he's likely to return for Sunday's contest versus Winnipeg, coach John Hynes told Jessi Pierce of NHL.com on Friday.
Rooney (undisclosed) was put on injured reserve Friday, per Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
Saros (lower body) won't suit up in Thursday's season opener versus the Dallas Stars, Nick Kieser of 102.5 ESPN Nashville reports.
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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