Speaking with the media today, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said there’s a “good probability” that the remaining COVID-related escrow balance could be paid by the players this season, and remains optimistic about revenues. If the escrow balance gets paid off, the salary cap could jump more than the predicted $1MM incremental increase, two years sooner than originally expected coming out of the pandemic.
Bettman did note that it would be a close call, but if the revenue numbers hit, the cap could jump roughly $4MM to a figure of around $86.5MM for the 2023-24 season. The league’s cap growth would then mirror pre-pandemic trends, if not more.
This is gigantic news for a number of teams, especially those who have big-name free agents due for contracts by July 1 of next year. It also bodes well for teams tight to the salary cap to be able to have more roster flexibility in the offseason.
That list of big-name unrestricted free agents next summer is no joke, and a ~$4MM salary cap increase would have a massive effect on many negotiations. Ryan O’Reilly in St. Louis, David Pastrnak in Boston, Dylan Larkin in Detroit, Bo Horvat in Vancouver, and Frederik Andersen in Carolina are some notables who could re-sign with their current teams for a big payday.
It also makes life easier for teams like the Vegas Golden Knights, who are poised to get a healthy Robin Lehner back but already remain well over the currently projected $83.5MM salary cap for 2023-24.
This is why the Rangers should’ve held on to Buch.
They should use that money to find the Coyotes a real home preferably in Quebec City.
Yea QBC would be good they need to add 1 team to the east. Kanas sounds good aswell realignment would need to happen division wise with QBC but kanas would make realignment less of a necessity but would still be shitty for them to play all the west coast teams
If they do ever leave, they pretty much need to stay in the pacific, or at the very least the west. I don’t think there’s really anyway they could force Detroit or Columbus back into the Western Conference. The only logical moves to me would be San Diego/Portland, or shift Colorado to the Pacific and move Arizona to a city like Houston or Kansas City.
@jd if the yotes do move i like to them go to kc i think that would make for a nice rivalry between stl and kc.