Payrolls Up 19% As NHL Teams Strive To Reach $44M Salary Cap

NHL Payrolls Up 19% This Year

This season, 16 of the 30 NHL teams are “within $2[M] of the $44[M] team cap and 26 teams have a cap number topping” $40M, according to Kevin Allen of USA TODAY. NHLPA Exec Dir Ted Saskin said that opening-day payrolls were up 19% from last season, “the highest increase in 15 years.” Saskin: “It means clubs are also optimistic about the future. I don’t think teams would be making these kind of commitments unless they were also bullish about revenue growth.” Allen notes “several factors contributed to rising payrolls, including a record number of arbitration filings, plus owners paying out more with long-term deals.” Ducks Exec VP & GM Brian Burke added, “The pressure in your marketplace to have your payroll start with a ‘four’ is tremendous.” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said of the new CBA, “The system is working as intended.” The following presents estimated opening-day salary cap figures for all 30 teams (USA TODAY, 10/19).

TEAM	PAYROLL	TEAM	PAYROLL
Devils^	$49.7M	Ducks	$42M
Bruins^	$47.8M	Kings	$41.9M
Flyers^	$44.6M	Islanders	$41.7M
Avalanche^	$44.4M	Stars	$41.6M
Maple Leafs^	$44.2M	Flames	$41.2M
Sabres	$43.9M	Hurricanes	$41.1M
Coyotes	$43.7M	Panthers	$41M
Canucks	$43.7M	Blackhawks	$40.6M
Sharks	$43.5M	Blue Jackets	$40.2M
Wild	$43.1M	Oilers	$40.1M
Lightning	$43M	Thrashers	$40M
Red Wings	$42.9M	Blues	$38.1M
Canadiens	$42.9M	Predators	$37.7M
Rangers	$42.5M	Penguins	$35.5M
Senators	$42.5M	Capitals	$30.8M

^ = Cap exceeds $44M because of injury exceptions.