NHLPA, NHL announce team payroll ranges for next three seasons
The agreement sets annual increases to the Upper Limit, subject to the Collective Bargaining Agreement being in effect beyond the 2025-26 season.
NEW YORK/TORONTO (Jan. 31, 2025) – The National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association announced today an agreement that will provide increased predictability on core Salary Cap economics for a minimum of the next three years (through 2027-28).
The agreement sets the following annual increases to the Upper Limit, subject to the Collective Bargaining Agreement being in effect beyond the 2025-26 season:
2025-26: $7.5 million
2026-27: $8.5 million
2027-28: $9.5 million
Those increases would set Team Payroll Ranges for the next three seasons to:
2025-26
Upper Limit: $95.5 Million
Lower Limit: $70.6 Million
2026-27
Upper Limit: $104 Million
Lower Limit: $76.9 Million
2027-28
Upper Limit: $113.5 Million
Lower Limit: $83.9 Million
The projected Team Payroll Ranges for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons will be subject to potential minor adjustments (up or down).
The parties still intend to meet to discuss other elements of the Collective Bargaining Agreement that might need modification and/or improvement beyond the 2025-26 season.