NHL sets salary cap for next three seasons!

A lot of numbers crunching will have to take place for several teams in the National Hockey League… 

The NHL salary cap could remain stagnant over the coming seasons as the league and players’ association continue to work toward a potential extension of the CBA.

“As part of the agreement, the salary cap will be kept close to the current $81.5 million for the next three seasons,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Thursday, adding that there’s potential for it to go up $1 million in 2022-23.

All players in the league are expected to individually vote either for or against the extension.

New York Rangers superstar Artemi Panarin has been quite vocal about setting an agreement in place before returning to action. He and Anaheim Ducks’ Ryan Kesler have voiced their frustrations with high escrow levels that have “protected the owners’ income.”

Panarin added that the players should not report to training camp, which is set to open July 10, until an agreement is in place.

According to Friedman, the potential agreement between the two sides caps escrow at 20% for the 2020-21 campaign after original estimates had escrow at 35% if this season was not completed, and 27%-28% if it was. They also discuss a potential deal involving a 10% salary deferral by every player for one season only. That money will be returned to players in the future and the escrow on it would be lower.

A lot on the table, but clearly less money in the teams’ pockets for the upcoming seasons as salary cap usually goes up from season to season…