NHL raises salary cap to US$75M

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 2017-18 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.

Rosters are frozen for trade until Thursday morning unless the trade is with the Knights. Vegas has expressed a willingness to deal with clubs that want to keep those players that couldn’t be protected.

The lower limit for the salary cap will be $55.4 million.