NHL Announces Salary Cap Increase to $88M, Hosts and 4-Nations Schedule

SUNRISE — NHL general managers will have more money to play with next season.

The league and NHL Players’ Association announced Saturday before the Stanley Cup Final opener between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers that the 2024-25 salary cap is getting a significant increase to $88 million, up from $83.5 million.

The jump represents the first significant increase in years, after modest $1 million collections over the past two seasons, which reflected the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I know the general managers and the teams are excited to have more flexibility,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said at his annual press conference in the hours before Game 1. “It means the revenue is as robust as we’ve said. all.”

The maximum limit will be $65 million.

“It’s been a good year for hockey,” said NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh. “Double-digit viewing is up mostly across the league, revenue is coming. It puts us in a strong position as a PA just to advocate on behalf of our players.”

The league also revealed the schedule and venues for the newest international hockey event.

Montreal and Boston will host the inaugural NHL 4 Nations Face-Off from February 12-20.

Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland were previously announced as participating countries. The showcase will feature six round-robin contests followed by a championship game.

“Two iconic cities,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. “We have 32 franchises, so we could have put it anywhere. But the two rose to the top.

“They’re both really excited about hosting. We’re looking forward to being there.”

Canada and the USA will play on February 16 at the Bell Center in the last of four games in Montreal. Boston’s TD Garden hosts three games, including the finale on Feb. 20.

“The good thing is that I’m excited about it (and) the bad thing is that every single person in Boston is going to call me looking for tickets,” joked Walsh, a Boston native.

The NHL announced at the All-Star Game in February that the All-Stars will participate in the next two Olympics after skipping 2018 for business reasons and missing out on 2022 due to COVID-19.

The 2026 Winter Games are slated for Milan and Cortina, Italy, while the 2030 host city has yet to be announced.

NHL players participated in five Olympics between 1998 and 2014 – the last men’s best-of-the-best tournament.

The NHL 4 Nations showdown won’t be quite the same without teams like the Czech Republic and Russia, but it will be a chance for Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews and a host of other stars to pull on their international jerseys for the year. out of the 2026 Games.

The league last held a World Cup in 2016. That event featured an under-23 team from North America and a team from Europe made up of smaller hockey powers.

TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER WELL

The league and players have had a fractured relationship at times, but Walsh — on the job 15 months after Don Fehr’s long tenure — ushered in a new era.

“It’s a very open, honest, good dialogue,” Bettman said. “We have a good relationship that may be the best in the history of working relationships between the NHL and the NHL Players Association.

“We’re collaborating on a lot of important initiatives. And I think that bodes well for the future growth of the game and the league.”

THE BLACKHAWKS SCANDAL

Bettman said former Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman and head coach Joel Quenneville remain ineligible to be hired by teams in the wake of the Kyle Beech sexual assault scandal.

“They both reached out looking for an opportunity to come back,” the commissioner said. “It’s something I have to consider.”

BALLPARK TALK

Bettman was asked about the Panthers getting a game at LoanDepot Park, home of Major League Baseball’s Miami Marlins.

“I haven’t been there, but I understand it’s very beautiful,” he said with a smile.

“And it’s got a roof and it’s got air conditioning. I’m not going to break any news today, but we’re aware that at some point it would be good for the Panthers to be in an outdoor game. We’re continuing to explore options.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 8, 2024.

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Joshua Clipperton, Canadian Press