Nhl Salary Cap By Team

The National Hockey League (NHL) salary cap is a crucial aspect of the league’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA). The salary cap is the maximum amount that each team can spend on player contracts, and it is calculated based on the league’s revenue from the previous season. For the 2022-2023 season, the NHL salary cap is set at $82.5 million per team.
Here is a breakdown of the current salary cap situation for each NHL team, including their current cap hit, cap space, and notable contracts:
- Anaheim Ducks: The Ducks have a current cap hit of 73.4 million, with 9.1 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Ryan Getzlaf (8.25 million), Ryan Kesler (6.875 million), and Cam Fowler ($6.5 million).
- Arizona Coyotes: The Coyotes have a current cap hit of 68.3 million, with 14.2 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Clayton Keller (7.15 million), Phil Kessel (6.8 million), and Oliver Ekman-Larsson ($6.5 million).
- Boston Bruins: The Bruins have a current cap hit of 78.1 million, with 4.4 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Patrice Bergeron (6.875 million), David Krejci (7.25 million), and Charlie McAvoy ($9.5 million).
- Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres have a current cap hit of 71.4 million, with 11.1 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Jack Eichel (10 million), Jeff Skinner (9 million), and Rasmus Dahlin ($6 million).
- Calgary Flames: The Flames have a current cap hit of 75.4 million, with 7.1 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Johnny Gaudreau (6.75 million), Sean Monahan (6.375 million), and Matthew Tkachuk ($7 million).
- Carolina Hurricanes: The Hurricanes have a current cap hit of 74.2 million, with 8.3 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Sebastian Aho (8.46 million), Teuvo Teravainen (5.4 million), and Dougie Hamilton ($5.75 million).
- Chicago Blackhawks: The Blackhawks have a current cap hit of 76.3 million, with 6.2 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Patrick Kane (10.5 million), Jonathan Toews (10.5 million), and Brent Seabrook ($6.875 million).
- Colorado Avalanche: The Avalanche have a current cap hit of 77.2 million, with 5.3 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Nathan MacKinnon (6.3 million), Mikko Rantanen (9.25 million), and Cale Makar ($7 million).
- Columbus Blue Jackets: The Blue Jackets have a current cap hit of 72.5 million, with 10 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Artemi Panarin (11.64 million), Sergei Bobrovsky (10.43 million), and Seth Jones ($5.4 million).
- Dallas Stars: The Stars have a current cap hit of 73.2 million, with 9.3 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Jamie Benn (9.5 million), Tyler Seguin (9.85 million), and John Klingberg ($4.25 million).
- Detroit Red Wings: The Red Wings have a current cap hit of 69.2 million, with 13.3 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Dylan Larkin (6.1 million), Andreas Athanasiou (3 million), and Frans Nielsen ($5.25 million).
- Edmonton Oilers: The Oilers have a current cap hit of 76.1 million, with 6.4 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Connor McDavid (12.5 million), Leon Draisaitl (8.5 million), and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ($6 million).
- Florida Panthers: The Panthers have a current cap hit of 74.5 million, with 8 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Aleksander Barkov (5.9 million), Jonathan Huberdeau (5.9 million), and Keith Yandle ($6.35 million).
- Los Angeles Kings: The Kings have a current cap hit of 75.9 million, with 6.6 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Anze Kopitar (10 million), Drew Doughty (11 million), and Jonathan Quick ($5.8 million).
- Minnesota Wild: The Wild have a current cap hit of 73.9 million, with 8.6 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Ryan Suter (7.875 million), Zach Parise (7.54 million), and Mikko Koivu ($5.5 million).
- Montreal Canadiens: The Canadiens have a current cap hit of 72.8 million, with 9.7 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Carey Price (10.5 million), Max Domi (3.15 million), and Shea Weber ($7.86 million).
- Nashville Predators: The Predators have a current cap hit of 78.3 million, with 4.2 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Ryan Johansen (8 million), Matt Duchene (8 million), and Roman Josi ($4 million).
- New Jersey Devils: The Devils have a current cap hit of 71.1 million, with 11.4 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Nico Hischier (7.5 million), Taylor Hall (6 million), and Kyle Palmieri ($4.65 million).
- New York Islanders: The Islanders have a current cap hit of 72.2 million, with 10.3 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Mathew Barzal (7 million), Anders Lee (7 million), and Jordan Eberle ($5.5 million).
- New York Rangers: The Rangers have a current cap hit of 77.5 million, with 5 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Artemi Panarin (11.64 million), Mika Zibanejad (5.35 million), and Chris Kreider ($4.65 million).
- Ottawa Senators: The Senators have a current cap hit of 68.5 million, with 14 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Brady Tkachuk (7.75 million), Thomas Chabada (4.8 million), and Matt Murray ($6.25 million).
- Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers have a current cap hit of 75.1 million, with 7.4 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Claude Giroux (8.275 million), Jakub Voracek (8.25 million), and Shayne Gostisbehere ($4.5 million).
- Pittsburgh Penguins: The Penguins have a current cap hit of 78.5 million, with 4 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Sidney Crosby (8.7 million), Evgeni Malkin (9.5 million), and Kris Letang ($7.25 million).
- San Jose Sharks: The Sharks have a current cap hit of 76.9 million, with 5.6 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Erik Karlsson (11.5 million), Brent Burns (8 million), and Logan Couture ($8 million).
- St. Louis Blues: The Blues have a current cap hit of 78.2 million, with 4.3 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Vladimir Tarasenko (7.5 million), Ryan O'Reilly (7.5 million), and Brayden Schenn ($5.125 million).
- Tampa Bay Lightning: The Lightning have a current cap hit of 79.5 million, with 3 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Nikita Kucherov (9.5 million), Steven Stamkos (8.5 million), and Victor Hedman ($7.875 million).
- Toronto Maple Leafs: The Maple Leafs have a current cap hit of 80.5 million, with 2 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include John Tavares (11 million), Auston Matthews (11.64 million), and Mitch Marner ($10.893 million).
- Vancouver Canucks: The Canucks have a current cap hit of 74.8 million, with 7.7 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Elias Pettersson (7.35 million), Quinn Hughes (7.85 million), and Brock Boeser ($5.878 million).
- Vegas Golden Knights: The Golden Knights have a current cap hit of 76.5 million, with 6 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Mark Stone (9.5 million), Max Pacioretty (7 million), and Jonathan Marchessault ($5 million).
- Washington Capitals: The Capitals have a current cap hit of 78.9 million, with 3.6 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Alex Ovechkin (9.6 million), Nicklas Backstrom (6.7 million), and John Carlson ($8 million).
- Winnipeg Jets: The Jets have a current cap hit of 75.6 million, with 6.9 million in cap space. Their notable contracts include Connor Hellebuyck (6.167 million), Mark Scheifele (6.125 million), and Blake Wheeler ($5.6 million).
Key Takeaway:
Understanding the NHL salary cap and each team’s current situation can be crucial for fans, analysts, and fantasy hockey enthusiasts. The salary cap affects roster construction, contract negotiations, and overall team performance. By monitoring the cap situation, fans can anticipate potential roster moves, predict team success, and appreciate the complexity of NHL front office management.
Expert Insight:
The NHL salary cap is a dynamic system, influenced by revenue, contract negotiations, and free agency. Teams must navigate the cap landscape to build competitive rosters while ensuring long-term sustainability. The most successful teams balance short-term needs with long-term planning, leveraging tools like contract extensions, buyouts, and trade deadlines to optimize their cap situation.
Pros and Cons of the Current Salary Cap System:
Pros:
- Encourages competitive balance among teams
- Prevents wealthy teams from dominating the league
- Promotes smart front office management and roster construction
Cons:
- Can lead to restrictions on player salaries and team spending
- Limits flexibility for teams to make roster moves
- Can create tension between teams and players during contract negotiations
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<h3>What is the current NHL salary cap?</h3>
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<p>The current NHL salary cap is $82.5 million per team for the 2022-2023 season.</p>
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<h3>How is the NHL salary cap calculated?</h3>
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<p>The NHL salary cap is calculated based on the league's revenue from the previous season, taking into account factors like ticket sales, sponsorships, and broadcast rights.</p>
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<h3>What happens if a team exceeds the salary cap?</h3>
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<p>If a team exceeds the salary cap, they may face penalties, fines, or even the loss of draft picks. Teams can also use mechanisms like buyouts or trades to become compliant with the cap.</p>
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<h3>Can teams carry over cap space from one season to another?</h3>
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<p>No, teams cannot carry over cap space from one season to another. Each season, teams start with a clean slate and must manage their cap situation accordingly.</p>
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<h3>How do teams handle long-term injured reserve (LTIR) players?</h3>
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<p>Teams can place LTIR players on the injured reserve list, which allows them to exceed the salary cap by the amount of the player's salary. However, teams must still comply with the cap once the player returns to the active roster.</p>
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<h3>What is the impact of the salary cap on player contracts?</h3>
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<p>The salary cap can limit the amount of money teams can offer players in contract negotiations. This can lead to more modest contract extensions and a greater emphasis on team-friendly deals.</p>
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The NHL salary cap is a complex and ever-changing landscape, with teams constantly navigating the constraints and opportunities it presents. By understanding the current cap situation and the mechanisms that govern it, fans and analysts can gain a deeper appreciation for the intricacies of NHL front office management and the strategies teams employ to build competitive rosters.