Every year tough decisions must be made for all teams in the NHL due to the strict cap compliance rules that must be followed. Due to the failure of the NHL cap structure to grow over the past couple years, some teams have felt the pressure to make sure their teams are compliant.
Several NHL teams are unable to carry a full squad of 23 NHL players and have had to make changes to become cap compliant. 1 team is only able to carry 20 players, while several teams are only able to carry 21 players at the moment. This has resulted in 28 total NHL jobs lost to start the 2023-24 NHL season.
Revenues are on the rise, and ownership stability prevails across the league. The salary cap is expected to approach $90 million for the upcoming season, a substantial increase from the current $83.5 million. Commissioner Gary Bettman expressed confidence in the league's health, citing strong franchise ownership and excitement for the new season.
Additionally, there is the opportunity for future hockey club expansion, which would increase the revenues generated by the NHL. By having more revenue, the cap will increase allowing for more roster flexibility, allowing for all teams to have a full roster of 23 players in the years to come. A possible expansion would also open up more roles at the NHL level.
