In what may be a best-case scenario, the 2016-17 salary cap ceiling could go as high as $74.5 million for the 2016-17 season.
(This season’s mark is $71.4M, so that’s about a $3.1 million increase ... potentially.)
That’s the number stemming from Monday’s Board of Governors meetings, via various reporters including ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun.
Salary cap ball park projection given to governors: $74.5 million for next season. That includes five percent inflator
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 8, 2015
High end cap of $74.5 is a projection. Some are also skeptical and believe it could hang around where it is now, $71.4.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 8, 2015
Keep in mind that the final number could change quite a bit.
Cap projection at $74.5M. Remember last year projection was at 73M. It's $2M lower. And with the C$ collapsing...
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) December 8, 2015
Assuming that ends up being the ceiling, which teams should be the happiest and which ones may be scrambling for funds?
Note: While the cap was discussed, expansion came up, though it sounds like it was very preliminary.
Gary Bettman says executive committee met for 3 hours and talked about information with expansion process. Process remains ongoing.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) December 8, 2015
NHL executive committee didn't finish his deliberations on expansion. #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) December 8, 2015
Bettman on expansion and if a vote could be coming eventually: "We haven't set a date. We're not on a timetable."
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) December 8, 2015