Salary Cap Smoothing Discussions
The NHL and NHLPA will meet in the new year to discuss the possibility of “smoothing” the salary cap over the 2027-28 and 2028-29 seasons, sportsnet.ca reported.
Under the current three-year agreement concluding at the end of next season, the salary cap for 2027-28 is set at $113.5 million. At September’s Board of Governors meeting in New York City, the league provided a preliminary estimate of $127.5 million for 2028-29.
Proposed Ceiling Adjustments
What the league and players’ association could agree to is raising next season’s ceiling and lowering the 2028-29 number by the same amount. For example, if they decided to raise 2027-28 by $2 million to $115.5 million, they would drop the following year to $125.5 million. There is nothing concrete at this time, just a willingness to discuss the issue over the next few months, according to sportsnet.ca.
The NBA went through something similar after a major television contract jumped its cap from $70 million in 2015-16 to $94 million in 2016-17. After it was decided that summer created too much carnage, the latest CBA prevents any jump being larger than 10 per cent, sportsnet.ca reported.
Questions about NHL salary cap smoothing and estimates
When will the NHL and NHLPA meet to discuss salary cap smoothing?
The NHL and NHLPA will meet in the new year to discuss the possibility of smoothing the salary cap over the 2027-28 and 2028-29 seasons, as reported by sportsnet.ca.
What is the preliminary salary cap estimate for 2028-29?
At September’s Board of Governors meeting in New York City, the league provided a preliminary estimate of $127.5 million for the 2028-29 season.
How did the NBA handle a similar cap jump?
After a television contract jumped the NBA cap from $70 million in 2015-16 to $94 million in 2016-17, the league instituted a rule preventing any single-season jump from being larger than 10 per cent.
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