Marc Dumont
The NHL is expecting a significant increase in regard to the salary cap over the course of the next three years, which should give the Montreal Canadiens plenty of financial manoeuvrability as they take the next step in the rebuild.
The salary cap for the 2025-26 season should be set at $95.5 million, representing an 8.5 percent increase over the current salary cap of $88 million. It will then rise to $104 million in 2026-27, an 8.9 percent increase over the previous year. Finally, 2027-28 will feature a 9.2 percent increase, with the salary cap set at $113.5 million
New:
NHL/NHLPA have released cap estimates for next three seasons:
2025-26: $95.5M
2026-27: $104 M
2027-28: $113.5M— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 31, 2025
Salary Cap Increase Impact On Montreal Canadiens
While the cap will rise between 8.5 percent to 9.2 percent per season, the total growth represents more than a 29 percent increase from 2024-25 to 2027-28, a very healthy bump for all NHL teams.
Well, let me rephrase that.
It’s a healthy bump for all NHL teams that can afford it, and that certainly includes the Montreal Canadiens.
The first thing that comes to mind when discussing the upcoming increases is the contracts offered to both Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield in recent seasons. At just $7.875 million and $7.85 million respectively, the two most important cogs in the team’s offensive wheel should provide fantastic value at the perfect time in the rebuild, giving general manager Kent Hughes more options moving forward.
Of course, the change will also mean the next series of contracts are likely to be signed for big money, at least relative to what they would have cost NHL teams between 2022 and 2025. Even though the salary cap is going up, a sharp accounting pencil is still in order, as things can quickly get out of control when general managers have salary-cap flexibility.
Remember, all the teams that got themselves into salary-cap hell will now have bonus space to work with, which means more terrible contracts are inevitable. The wisest teams will avoid immediately using all the available cap space, giving them more options down the road when reinforcements are needed.
Impact On 2025-26 Montreal Canadiens Season
Projected Salary Cap: $95.5 million. Projected Canadiens Cap Usage: $80.4 million
Players Signed: 15
Eight Forwards (Patrik Laine, Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Brendan Gallagher, Josh Anderson, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook)
Five Defencemen (Arber Xhekaj, Lane Hutson, Alexandre Carrier, Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle)
Two Goaltenders (Carey Price *LTIR, Samuel Montembeault)
Restricted Free Agents: Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Emil Heineman, Jayden Struble, Jakub Dobes.
Unrestricted Free Agents: David Savard, Joel Armia, ChristianDvorak, Jake Evans, Michael Pezzetta.
As you can see, the Habs will have roughly $15 million in caps space this summer, however, that doesn’t include Carey Price’s $10.5 million cap hit, which will either be traded to a team looking to reach the salary cap floor, or placed on LTIR should the Canadiens need to access further funds.
Look at it this way. The Habs have $15 million to spend before they have to even consider what they’ll do with Price’s contract. LTIR funds do not accrue, which is why they’ll avoid placing him on LTIR for as long as possible.
None of the restricted free agents warrant a significant pay raise, and other than Jake Evans, none of the unrestricted free agents are expected to warrant a discussion as to a possible contract extension.
It’s also worth noting that the salary retention slots used on Jeff Petry and Jake Allen will be available, an interesting option for Hughes should the Canadiens fail to make the playoffs.
We do have to keep in mind the eventual mega-contract offered to Hutson. I expected it to be close to $9 or $10 million before the increase was announced, but the higher salary cap will give Hutson’s camp more ammo to work with as both parties attempt to find a number they can agree on.
Projected Montreal Canadiens Cap Space (2025-26): $15.1 million
Impact On 2026-27 Montreal Canadiens Season
Projected Salary Cap: $104 million. Projected Canadiens Cap Usage: $50.7 million
Players Signed: 9
Six Forwards (Alex Newhook, Josh Anderson, Brendan Gallagher, Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki).
Two Defencemen (Alex Carrier, Kaiden Guhle).
One Goaltenders (Samuel Montembeault)
Restricted Free Agents: Kirby Dach, Arber Xhekaj, Lane Hutson.
Unrestricted Fee Agents: Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Patrik Laine, Mike Matheson, Carey Price
The 2026-27 season should be very interesting. As it stands, the Habs will have roughly $53 million in cap space. Now, we can’t forget all the young players who are set for a pay rise, such as Hutson and Dach, and there’s also the matter of prospects who aren’t currently playing in the NHL. Ivan Demidov should be part of the team by then, while some AHL players should also join the fold. With that in mind, even though the Canadiens only have nine players signed (as of now), it’s a healthy situation for Hughes and Co.
It’s very difficult to project exactly what the team will look like in two years, but the Canadiens will have an opportunity to be among the busiest teams in the league, as they’ll have ample cap space. Much of their financial flexibility will depend on what kind of raises, if any, Laine and Dach will command.
Projected Montreal Canadiens Cap Space (2026-27): $53.3 million
Impact On 2027-28 Montreal Canadiens Season
Projected Salary Cap: $113.5 million. Canadiens Projected Cap Usage: $28.88 million.
Players Signed: 4
Three Forwards (Juraj Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield)
One Defenceman (Kaiden Guhle)
Restricted Free Agents: Alex Newhook
Unrestricted Fee Agents: Alex Carrier, Josh Anderson, Brendan Gallagher, Samuel Montembeault
By this point, we’re really grasping at straws to paint the salary-cap picture, but suffice it to say, Hughes, or whoever will be in charge of the Canadiens by then, will practically have a clean slate.
Only four core players are signed, while Anderson and Gallagher’s contracts will mercifully expire.
Again, there are too many variables to consider, and saying they’ll almost have $85 million in cap space is deceptive, because they also need to sign 20 players to complete the lineup.
There are just too many questions left to be answered.
Will Jacob Fowler be their starter by then?
Will Hutson be working with a $12 million (AAV)?
How much will Ivan Demidov’s second NHL contract cost?
How many prospects will be due for a raise?
Regardless, it’s safe to say the roster should look very different to what we’re expecting today. Remember, while most fans project players to stay with the team in the long term, NHL roster turnover prior to this gigantic increase in cap space was already intense.
NHL teams will have over $3.5 billion to spend that season, connoting that we’re set for a very interesting, if not completely chaotic future.
Projected Montreal Canadiens Cap Space (2027-28): $84.6 million
Montreal Canadiens salary cap information via Puck Pedia.
