NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told reporters on Wednesday that the salary cap will likely be between the range of $84-88.2 million for the 2020-21 season. The official number will likely be set in June, around the NHL Draft. The salary cap is at $83.5 million for this season.
The range is because of the inflator negotiation that still needs to happen between NHL and players’ association. The low end is with 0% inflator while the high end is with max 5% inflator.
The League informed the GMs today that the salary cap next season will fall somewhere between $84-88.2 million. The range is because of the inflator negotiation that still needs to happen between NHL and NHLPA. Low end is with 0% inflator, high end is with max 5% inflator.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) March 4, 2020
The top unrestricted free agents on the market this summer include St. Louis Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo, Arizona Coyotes forward Taylor Hall, Florida Panthers forward Mike Hoffman, Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby, Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner, Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford, Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug, Panthers forward Evgenii Dadonov, Vancouver Canucks forward Tyler Toffoli, and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Tyson Barrie.
The biggest restricted free agents that are due this summer include New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal, New York Rangers center Ryan Strome, Blackhawks forward Dominik Kubalik, Montreal Canadiens forward Max Domi, and Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev.
NHL salary cap (growth)
05-06: $39M
06-07: $44M (+$5M)
07-08: $50.3M (+$6.5M)
08-09: $56.7M (+$6.4M)
09-10: $56.8M (+$100K)
10-11: $59.4M (+$2.6M)
11-12: $64.3M (+$4.9M)
12-13: $60M (-$4.3M lockout)
13-14: $64.3M (+$4.3M)
14-15: $69M (+$4.7M)
15-16: $71.4M (+$2.4M)
16-17: $73M (+$1.6M)
17-18: $75M (+$2M)
18-19: $79.5M (+$4.5M)
19-20. $81.5M (+$2M)
20-21: $84-88.2 M (+2.5-6.7M)
Assuming the salary cap was $84 million, the Capitals would have $12,894,872 left in cap space with Holtby, defenseman Radko Gudas, and forward Ilya Kovalchuk eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1, the same day that forwards Travis Boyd, Brendan Leipsic, and defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler will be eligible for restricted free agency.
Captain Alex Ovechkin, forward Jakub Vrana, and goaltender Ilya Samsonov are also eligible to sign contract extensions on July 1.
By Harrison Brown
