NHL's first 2028-29 salary cap estimate: $127.5 million
The league's early projection, shared at this week's Board of Governors meeting, would be the biggest one-year jump of the cap era.
The NHL's first look at the 2028-29 salary cap is a big one. The league gave the Board of Governors an estimate of $127.5 million (U.S.) at its meeting this week, Sportsnet reported, citing multiple sources.
If it holds, that would be a $14 million increase over the 2027-28 ceiling of $113.5 million, the largest season-to-season jump since the cap was introduced.
The league and the NHL Players' Association are in the second season of a three-season agreement that has pushed the ceiling to record levels. This season's cap is $104 million.
Commissioner Gary Bettman said revenue projections for the coming season sit at approximately $8.1 billion in mixed currency, the main driver behind the rising figure.
The climb will not land evenly. Smaller Canadian markets, which earn revenue in Canadian dollars while paying players in U.S. dollars, face a tougher time keeping pace with a ceiling rising this quickly.
For players, the projection extends a windfall. It follows a summer in which contracts for Leo Carlsson, Macklin Celebrini and Cale Makar set new highs.
That market shift was felt again Thursday, when Adam Fantilli signed a six-year, $82.5 million contract ($13.75 million AAV) with the Columbus Blue Jackets after missing the first eight days of training camp.
A $127.5 million ceiling would move it again.
