Here’s the latest I can share based on recent reporting up to 2025–26, with a quick snapshot of where the NHL salary cap stood and where it’s expected to go.

Direct answer

• The NHL salary cap has been rising in recent seasons and is projected to exceed the $90 million mark in the near term, with continued upward momentum expected as hockey-related revenues improve and the current CBA timelines advance toward a new agreement.

Key context and recent trends

• 2024–25 cap: Reports announced an $88 million cap for 2024–25, a $4.5 million increase from the prior season, signaling a rebound from pandemic-era stabilization and improved HRR (hockey-related revenue). This marked the first sizable jump after several years of smaller increases, pointing to stronger revenue flow across clubs.[4]
• 2025–26 expectations: Analysts and league communications indicated the cap would continue to rise as escrow payments stabilize and HRR improves, with discussions about the pace of increases tied to formal CBA discussions and escrow dynamics.[1]
• 2026–27 and beyond: Several near-term analyses outside the official league press releases project continued growth, including multi-year trajectories that could push the cap into or beyond the $100 million range depending on HRR performance and CBA outcomes. One outlet predicted a sizable step up for 2026–27 in particular, contingent on league revenues and escrow outcomes.[6][10]

What this means for teams

• Higher cap ceilings and floor adjustments generally translate to more flexibility in signing free agents, extending key players, and managing payrolls within a broader range of cap space.
• The cap’s movement remains tightly coupled to hockey-related revenues and the escrow balance; a healthy HRR and a favorable CBA outcome usually translate to larger annual increases.[5][1]

Illustrative snapshot (recent milestones)

• 2023–24 to 2024–25: Cap rose from roughly $83.5M to $88M, a notable step up after a wave of smaller increases, signaling renewed growth in league revenues.[3][4]
• 2024–25 onward: Projections and official notes suggested the cap would continue climbing in subsequent seasons as revenues strengthen and the CBA timeline progresses toward a new agreement, with ongoing discussions about how escrow impacts the cap calculation.[1][5]

If you’d like, I can pull the very latest official NHL statements and compare the most recent cap numbers year-by-year, or translate this into a quick-ready table (year, cap ceiling, floor, notable notes) for easy reference. I can also tailor a summary for your team if you share which club you’re most interested in.

Citations:

• NHL reports on the 2024–25 cap and related increases.[4]
• Bettman comments and cap projections tied to HRR and CBA discussions.[1]
• Context on previous caps and the pandemic-era stabilization.[3]