NHL Salaries Soared During 2026 Offseason
The league salary cap reached $104 million for the 2026-27 season as teams secured long-term player contracts.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Hockey
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During the 2026 offseason, the NHL salary cap rose to $104 million for the 2026-27 season. This increase, supported by national television and advertising revenue, enabled teams to finalize several high-value long-term contracts.
Why it matters
Higher revenue from broadcasting and advertising provided teams with significantly more financial space to retain key talent. This enabled clubs to aggressively pursue long-term extensions and secure rosters through restricted free agency.
The NHL salary cap ceiling reached $104 million for the 2026-27 season, up from $95.5 million the prior year. High-profile deals included an AAV of $20.4 million for Cale Makar and $18.8 million for Macklin Celebrini.
The players
Cale Makar
He is a standout defenseman who secured an eight-year, $163.2 million contract extension.
Connor Bedard
He is a top-tier center who signed a five-year, $75 million contract extension.
Macklin Celebrini
He is an elite forward who agreed to a five-year, $94 million contract.
Philadelphia Flyers
This NHL franchise actively participated in the offseason market by offering Leo Carlsson a significant contract.
The details
Teams utilized the increased cap space to finalize major commitments, including Cale Makar signing an eight-year, $163.2 million deal and Macklin Celebrini securing a five-year contract worth $94 million. Other notable signings included Connor Bedard at $75 million over five years, Cutter Gauthier at $81 million over six years, and Zeev Buium at $75.04 million over eight years.
Timeline
The 2008-09 season saw Sidney Crosby establish his $8.7 million AAV contract.
Tage Thompson signed a $50 million contract extension in 2022.
Jake Sanderson and David Pastrnak signed extensions in 2023.
Brock Boeser signed a seven-year $50.75 million contract in July 2025.
The NHL salary cap reaches $104 million for the 2026-27 season.
Season Trajectory
The sudden expansion of individual player salaries alters the competitive balance and forces teams to restructure their long-term cap management strategies. This creates a new financial reality for the league as teams adapt to maintaining star-studded rosters under a higher but finite ceiling.
Fans should expect teams to have less flexibility to fill out depth positions as more cap space is concentrated into a few mega-contracts. This shift significantly impacts fantasy hockey valuations, as the AAV of top-tier players has reached record-breaking levels.
The takeaway
The sharp rise in the salary cap reflects a robust revenue environment, but it forces teams to become more selective with their long-term commitments. Success in this new financial landscape depends on identifying value in extensions before market rates continue to climb.
Further reading
For more analysis on team spending and roster construction, visit United States Hockey.
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