Latest Information on Next Year's Salary Cap Could Have Huge Implications for the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: NHL
The latest report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman may mean the Toronto Maple Leafs get an unexpectedly large amount of money to play with next season.
While the players on the ice are likely thinking about anything but next season, some very good news on the NHL's salary cap for next year has been revealed by trusted NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman.
On the latest edition of "Saturday Headlines," Friedman stated that the salary cap for next year will hit $92.5 million, which was enshrined in the last collective bargaining agreement signed in 2020. However, he adds the league has done well enough that it may go even higher.
"When this deal was done, we were in the middle of COVID, we had no idea what the world was going to look like, and there were very careful guardrails put in on the salary cap just in case things didn't recover."
Well, things have recovered. At least from the NHL's perspective. Friedman says NHL revenues have outpaced the "guardrails" put in on the salary cap.
"So, basically, we have two paths to follow here. Number one is they keep the cap at $92.5 million, and then there's a huge jump in 2026-27. Or, what the players say they've kind of been told about, is the possibility that the cap moves higher next year. Probably around the $95M to $97M area."
This could have very big implications for the Toronto Maple Leafs. GM Brad Treliving is in a year where two key names in Mitch Marner and John Tavares become free agents at the end of this season. There are also restricted free agents like Connor Dewer and Matthew Knies to consider.
Knies,who took a hilarious jab at teammate Mitch Marner following his overtime winner against Edmonton last night, could be looking for a deal in excess of $7M per season.
Whilr Nick Robertson could yet be traded, he's another player on the RFA list who will need a new deal if he ends up sticking around.
Having more money to utilize would be a massive plus for Treliving -- especially for a team like the Leafs in "win now" mode. These are the ones looking to
maximize every penny available.
maximize every penny available.
Treliving still has plenty of work to do this season as well, as a reporter recently pointed out that three members of the Maple Leafs are underperforming and have become a bit of a league-wide punchline. As a result, we could very well see a deal or two occur in-season.
Still, it's never too early for a GM to look ahead, and a salary cap win for players is also a win for Treliving, who will have a whole lot more money to spend.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 17 | 2700 ANSWERS Latest Information on Next Year's Salary Cap Could Have Huge Implications for the Maple Leafs If the salary cap is going up even more than expected in 2025-26, should the Maple Leafs be pushing hard to re-sign John Tavares and Mitch Marner? | ||
| Yes, bring them both back | 2124 | 78.7 % |
| No, spend that money elsewhere | 576 | 21.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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