The NHL and NHL Players’ Association announced Saturday that the salary cap limit will be $81.5 million for the upcoming 2019-20 season. The lower limit will be $60.2 million.
The $81.5 million is lower than $83 million that was previously expected.
NHL salary cap by season
2018-19: $79.5M
2017-18: $75M
2016-17: $73M
2015-16: $71.4M
2014-15: $69M
2013-14: $64.3M
The Blackhawks currently have $65,013,461 million committed to eight forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders, according to CapFriendly.com. Chicago has added $3,189,166 to its cap hit this offseason by giving defenseman Slater Koekkoek a $30,833 raise on a one-year deal then adding $3,158,833 million by acquiring defenseman Olli Maatta ($4,083,333) from the Penguins in exchange for winger Dominik Kahun ($925,000).
The Blackhawks now have $16,486,539 of cap space, but that will change after re-signing some players set to hit the open market.
Chicago has five unrestricted free agents and eight restricted free agents they could choose to re-sign. The Blackhawks are, at the least, expected to bring back forwards David Kampf, Dylan Sikura and Brendan Perlini. According to Evolving-Hockey’s model, all three are expected to sign two-year deals: Perlini ($2,093,858 per season), Kampf ($1,191,179 per season) and Sikura ($771,035 per season). Perlini is the only player general manager Stan Bowman has publicly stated will be back.
Those salary figures add up to $4,056,072 to the Blackhawks’ cap and give them $12,430,467 in cap space.