NHL raises its salary cap to US$75 million

The salary cap is going up after all in the National Hockey League.

The NHL and NHLPA announced an upper limit of US$75 million for the 201718 season — up from $73 million last season.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly thought the cap might remain flat — or slightly up — when he last addressed the issue at the Stanley Cup final. Daly said the league was open to limiting any potential increase in the cap to manage escrow concerns of the players. Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning thought the establishment of the cap would help clubs prepare to make moves ahead of Wednesday’s expansion draft. Protection lists were submitted to the NHL and NHLPA on Saturday and released to the Las Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday morning.