Report: NHL Salary Cap Could Reach $80 Million by Start of 2017-18 Season

The NHL salary cap went down in advance of the 2013-14 season, but it might not be long before it’s much higher than its pre-lockout figures.

The NHL salary cap could rise to $80 million within the next four years, CBC Sports reporter Elliotte Friedman told Sportsnet 590 on Tuesday, according to The Score.

Friedman reports that the cap could reach that figure prior to the 2017-18 season. That’s a big jump from the $64.3 million cap for this season.

That $64.3 million figure is the same salary cap the league had in the 2011-12 season. Teams were allowed to spend up to $70.2 million (prorated) coming out of the lockout, and the cut in cap forced multiple teams to exercise buyouts this offseason.