Overview
- The NHL salary cap is set at $104 million for the 2026–27 season, giving teams more payroll room and driving fresh contract activity across the league.
- Those cap gains helped produce record averages at the top of the market, including Kirill Kaprizov’s $17 million AAV and Leo Carlsson’s $18 million offer sheet that the Ducks matched.
- A rise in hockey-related revenue from higher ticket prices, separate streaming fees, merchandise and new league steps such as two extra games per team plus jersey and helmet ads is the main engine behind the cap growth.
- Mid-range deals have gained relative value as the cap inflates, with examples like Jake DeBrusk’s $5.5 million contract falling from about 6.25% of the cap to roughly 5.28%, boosting trade and roster leverage for teams and players.
- Projections for future caps vary widely — a commonly cited estimate is about $113.5 million while at least one agent has suggested as high as $123 million — so teams are adjusting contract timing, matching strategies and roster plans as they monitor revenue trends.