The NHL’s wage cap might see a bigger-than-expected bounce subsequent season, probably reaching $107 million, in response to insider Elliotte Friedman.
Speaking on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Friedman mentioned he’s begun listening to that subsequent 12 months’s cap ceiling — initially projected round $104 million — might climb even greater. “I’ve had a few folks point out the quantity 107 to me,” Friedman famous. “It’s alleged to be 104 subsequent 12 months, however I’m beginning to hear 107 come up a bit extra.”
The rise would mark one other important enhance following this 12 months’s $4.5 million bounce, that means groups have extra money to spend and contracts will proceed to be signed for greater and better greenback quantities. Friedman added that the expansion might not cease there: “Some folks actually suppose even the 12 months afterwards — penciled in for round 113 — might go even greater.”
As for when the NHL may affirm this information, Friedman mentioned that Commissioner Gary Bettman is anticipated to replace crew house owners on the league’s monetary outlook at upcoming Board of Governors conferences in October and December, with the latter historically offering a extra detailed projection for the next season.
Is This Wage Cap Bounce Good For Each NHL Workforce?
Nonetheless, Friedman additionally cautioned that not each crew could also be wanting to spend as much as the brand new restrict. “There’s a perception on the market that sure, there’s extra {dollars} to play with,” he mentioned, “however possibly not each crew is so giddy about spending proper to the max because the jumps proceed to occur.”
Whereas most NHL golf equipment have operated close to the wage cap lately, Friedman instructed that elevated monetary flexibility might widen the hole between big-market spenders and smaller-budget organizations. This implies groups just like the Maple Leafs, Rangers, and Oilers might separate themselves from groups just like the Jets and Senators, because the smaller-market groups received’t be as eager to spend as a lot cash.
If the $107 million projection holds, it’s going so as to add much more intrigue to an already fascinating storyline in the case of NHL contracts. Gamers might be leaning extra towards short-term offers, with some who signal long-term offers getting record-breaking extensions.
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