Bill Daily, the current deputy commissioner and chief legal officer of the National Hockey League (NHL), was a guest on the NHL Network’s SiriusXM’s “Stellick and Simmer” show Friday morning to discuss a wide array of topics, including current estimates for the 2018-2019 salary cap. 

Daily stated that final numbers will depend on the growth factor that the NHLPA and NHL agree to, but he thinks the cap will rise $4-5 million for next season. The current cap (upper limit) sits at $75 million for the 2017-2018 season, meaning next year’s cap would fall around $79-80 million (a 5-6.25% increase). No word on new minimum cap projections, which currently sits at $55.4 million.

For what it’s worth, early estimates last year at this time were right on the “money”, which ultimately saw the salary cap rise from $73 million to $75 million (a 2.67% increase). Earlier estimates made in December had the increase projected at $78-82 million, so the latest estimates see a more refined (tighter) range, and are slightly down.

The increase is more than double last season’s increment. Daily said “hockey related revenue” (HRR) has grown substantially. He added that the cap could be raised even more, but the NHLPA may want to agree to a lower growth factor, thus tempering the potential increase.

This is obviously good news for cash-strapped teams like the Capitals, who will be looking to re-sign key pieces this offseason. Final voting on and approval of the new salary cap will take place in mid-June.

By Jon Sorensen