Photo: Sportsnet

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the NHL salary cap is expected to rise by $1 million next season to $82.5 million after it has been flat since last season due to the economic implications of COVID-19.

This would give the Washington Capitals $13,583,334 in cap space for the 2022-23 season at the moment with goaltenders Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek in addition to right-wing Daniel Sprong eligible to become restricted free agents. Center Nic Dowd and defensemen Justin Schultz, Michal Kempny, and Matt Irwin can become unrestricted free agents after this season.

The news provides major relief to teams up against the cap as they could have a little extra breathing room to bolster their roster next offseason.

This offseason, teams have had to settle for trading quality players for little return to shave cap space and improve their roster such as the Vegas Golden Knights trading reigning Vezina Trophy winning goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for just forward prospect Mikael Hakkarainen, whose contract the Golden Knights terminated after the trade.

Cap expected to go up $1M for next season; report on Evander Kane situation expected before opening of training camp; investigation continues into Chicago, no timeline on that.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 16, 2021

By Harrison Brown