Salary Cap History
The NHL salary cap is the total amount of money that each National Hockey League (NHL) team is allowed to pay its players collectively. It is a "hard" salary cap, meaning there are no exemptions (and thus no luxury tax penalties are required).
The Upper Limit is commonly dependent upon the revenue accumulated by the NHL in previous seasons.
The Lower Limit prevents teams from depleting or trading away the core of their rosters with the intent of sacrificing their position in the league standings for a higher ranked position in the entry draft. This also acts to ensure that all players are compensated fairly.
The current cap system was introduced in the 2005–06 season.
| Season |
Upper Limit |
Lower Limit |
Minimum Salary |
| 2024-2025 |
$88M |
$65M |
$0.775M |
| 2023-2024 |
$83.5M |
$61.7M |
$0.775M |
| 2022-2023 |
$82.5M |
$61M |
$0.75M |
| 2021-2022 |
$81.5M |
$60.2M |
$0.75M |
| 2020-2021 |
$81.5M |
$60.2M |
$0.7M |
| 2019-2020 |
$81.5M |
$60.2M |
$0.7M |
| 2018-2019 |
$79.5M |
$58.8M |
$0.65M |
| 2017-2018 |
$75M |
$55.4M |
$0.65M |
| 2016-2017 |
$73M |
$54M |
$0.575M |
| 2015-2016 |
$71.4M |
$52.8M |
$0.575M |
| 2014-2015 |
$69M |
$51M |
$0.525M |
| 2013-2014 |
$64.3M |
$47.5M |
$0.525M |
| 2012-2013 |
$60M |
$44M |
$0.525M |
| 2011-2012 |
$64.3M |
$48.3M |
$0.525M |
| 2010-2011 |
$59.4M |
$43.4M |
$0.5M |
| 2009-2010 |
$56.8M |
$40.8M |
$0.5M |
| 2008-2009 |
$56.7M |
$40.7M |
$0.475M |
| 2007-2008 |
$50.3M |
$34.3M |
$0.475M |
| 2006-2007 |
$44M |
$28M |
$0.45M |
| 2005-2006 |
$39M |
$23M |
$0.45M |
