The NHL projects a $127.5 million salary cap for the 2028-29 season, multiple sources told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
The league reportedly shared its first estimate for 2028-29 with owners at this week's board of governors meeting. The salary cap for the 2026-27 campaign is $104 million.
The league and NHLPA are in the second year of a three-year agreement on the salary cap, which will rise to $113.5 million for the 2027-28 season. The 2028-29 projection would mark a single-year record increase of $14 million.
From 2019 to 2022, the salary cap remained stagnant at $81.5 million.
Player contracts have increased notably amid the salary cap growth. This offseason, three players broke the cap hit record: Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson ($18 million), San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini ($18.8 million), and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar ($20.4 million).
Makar's record cap hit kicks in for the 2027-28 season. The $20.4-million mark would be 16% of a $127.5-million cap, which is equivalent to $16.64 million against this season's $104-million cap.
