NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Wednesday the League’s salary cap is expected to increase for the 2020-21 season.
Speaking at the NHL general manager meetings in Boca Raton, Florida, Daly said the cap is projected to be between $84 million and $88.2 million after being $81.5 million this season.
The gap in the numbers is because of the inflator negotiation between the NHL Players Association still needs to occur. The lower end is with a 0 percent inflator and the high end is at 5 percent. Daly added collective bargaining agreement talks with the NHLPA have included creating a multi-year salary cap numbers(s).
The increase will help the Blackhawks as they look to improve their roster in hopes of making the playoffs in 2021. They’ll have seven NHL roster players set to hit free agents they could try to re-sign with forwards Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Strome (restricted free agents) and goaltender Corey Crawford (unrestricted free agent) as the most noteworthy names among the group.
NHL salary cap by season
2020-21: $84M to $88.2M
2019-20: $81.5M
2018-19: $79.5M
2017-18: $75M
2016-17: $73M
2015-16: $71.4M
2014-15: $69M
2013-14: $64.3M