The NHL salary cap for the 2017-18 season could stay flat at $73 million if the NHLPA votes against the five percent escalator clause, but TSN’s Bob McKenzie says there’s “virtually no chance” that happens in full.
While a lack of increases in NHL revenues means the league’s projection of the salary cap is flat without the escalator clause, the NHLPA retains the option through the CBA to increase the salary cap by up to five percent. That’s not a hard “yes or no” proposition, though, and McKenzie is reporting that the players could opt for an increase in the cap that’s not the full five percent.