After staying frozen for the past three seasons due to the revenue lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHL is expecting their salary cap for next season to go up by $1 million to $82.5 million.
Under this scenario, the Washington Capitals will have $12,628,334 to re-sign right-wing Marcus Johansson (pending unrestricted free agent), center Johan Larsson (UFA), defenseman Justin Schultz (UFA), defenseman Michal Kempny (UFA), defenseman Matt Irwin (UFA), goaltenders Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov (restricted free agents), and add in free agency or trades barring salary moving out.
The news provides relief to teams up against the cap as they could have a little extra breathing room to bolster their roster next offseason.
Last 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. They also had to part with restricted free agents they may have preferred to keep due to salary cap reasons.
Furthermore, the cap is scheduled to increase by $1 million each season thru 2024-25, upon which the NHLPA debt will be paid off and the cap will be expected to take a big jump starting 2025-26 (unless league revenues continue to climb and the debt is paid off sooner). https://t.co/E7CdtK0ZDc
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) March 29, 2022
By Harrison Brown
Every inch of room counts for these Caps. I think they pay both goalies and maybe Larrson if he can impress but I think the rest are gone.
Dont se Schultz back unless he takes a BIG decrease in salary. Kempny also gone. Irwin at 750 probably will be offered another base contract. MoJo, thanks for the time again but so long; I dont see him taking a min salary to play on the 3rd or 4th line and honestly we have younger players who are bettr and need to play. Need to remember that Snively will be back for next season in not late this year. TVR can take Schultz place. Is Pino in teh Caps [lans for the future? Can Alexeyev make the team next eyar? Will Protas be on the team next year? As for Larsson…..what a waste of picks to even get someone who is going to be on IR the rest of the year, so thanks for nothing and hope you land on someones roster next year. So looks like the caps should have about $10 mil to sign goalies and other UFAs in the minors.
Agree with all of your “cuts”, Steven. Irwin is decent value as well.
Alexeyev has had another underwhelming season in Hershey, however, he played well in KHL, made his way to top pair. He might be just one of those players that rises to level of competition.
Yeah, Alexeyev is treading water. I believe Johannson is the next up for the Caps. What a real good season he is having and he looked pretty good in limited time for the big club this year.
Resign VV and let Sammy test the free agent market. If the price is too high we can let him walk. There plenty of FA goalies available, including Holtby.
The offense should be ok. There’s plenty of talent in Hershey. Pinho is an UFA so I’m not sure if he’ll walk away or not. Leason is a RFA and should be resigned. Not much talent Defense wise in Hershey so the fix is going to have come from a free agent signing.