NHL, NHLPA to discuss possibility of ‘smoothing’ salary cap over next two seasons

The NHL’s salary cap will be $113.5 million next season, and is projected to be $127.5 million in the 2028-29 season.

By Ryan Cuneo · Daily Faceoff

Published: Tuesday, 10 November 2026 at 9:43 PM

Key Things to Know

The NHL and NHLPA will discuss smoothing salary cap growth over the next two seasons in the new year.
The move aims to prevent dramatic year-over-year cap spikes and create greater financial stability across the league.
The current NHL salary cap is $104 million and is projected to rise to $127.5 million by 2028-29.

The Story in 60 Seconds

The NHL and NHLPA will meet in the new year to discuss smoothing the salary cap's growth over the next two seasons, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. The decision was reached at Tuesday's general managers' meetings in an effort to make future annual increases less dramatic and foster a more stable financial environment.

The current salary cap sits at $104 million and is projected to reach $113.5 million next season and $127.5 million by 2028-29. To prevent a massive spike between seasons, one proposed strategy involves shifting funds to elevate next season's cap while proportionately reducing the 2028-29 projection.

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NHL, NHLPA to discuss possibility of ‘smoothing’ salary cap over next two seasons

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