On Oct. 1, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman projected the salary cap could rise from $88 million to $92.5 million for the 2025-26 season. He cautioned that was "way preliminary" and was based on the $4.5 million rise from the 2023-24 cap of $83.5 million
Some observers are already speculating the cap could rise higher than that if hockey-related revenue for this season remains strong.
On Nov. 16, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the league and the NHL Players' Association could discuss raising the cap between $7 million and $9 million for next season. Three days later, Bettman acknowledged anything was possible but said Friedman's numbers "weren't anywhere close to accurate.