Blackhawks To Receive $7M Grant From NHL In 2025 Salary Cap Projection
Thanks to Gary Bettman and the NHL, the league will have a $92-93 Million salary cap, which puts $7 Million in the coffers of GM Kyle Davidson.
With the latest news of the salary cap being raised by NHL Insider Marco D'Amico, the escrow percentage could change as soon as January 30th, 2025.
Lowering the escrow percentage of players contributes to league revenue from 6% to 0%, which indicates that the salary cap ceiling could be rising.
Marco D'Amico at RG Media reported that the NHL and NHLPA have agreed that, «effective January 30, 2025, the escrow withholding rate will drop from 6% to 0% for the remainder of the season.» D'Amico also reports this may be an indicator that the salary ceiling for the 2025-26 season may go up more than the $92-93M range.
NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman reported early in November, that the players had paid off their escrow debt earlier than expected and could expect an increase in the future. It appears now that time could be arriving at the end of January.
This could be a win-win for the Blackhawks who could be active sellers at the trade deadline, moving veteran talent like Taylor Hall in order to fuel the rebuild.
During a Hockey Night in Canada broadcast on Nov. 16, Elliotte Friedman reported that the NHL may need to negotiate a much higher cap because the players' escrow debt from the COVID seasons would be repaid earlier than anticipated.
Gary Bettman detailed how revenue sharing could factor into a salary cap raise if players fulfill their obligations.
The cap under the current guidelines in the Collective Bargaining Agreement would go up 5 percent,» Bettman told NHL.com on Dec. 10. «As we look at revenues, we're going to have discussions with the Players' Association about escrow levels and whether or not the cap can or should be tweaked a little more on an ongoing basis, but that's something that we have to really work out with the Players' Association and we're having those discussions.»
This would be a significant salary cap rise we haven't seen in quite some time.
How GM Kyle Davidson Could Weaponize The Cap
Currently, the Chicago Blackhawks have more than adequate cap space to make deals with during the trade deadline.
An increase of $7 million would let GM Kyle Davidson and the Hawks entice high-end talent while allowing them to work on the top-nine forward core.
For example, someone like JT Miller, Elias Pettersson, or Mikko Rantanen.
The Blackhawks could also weaponize their cap space to eat other teams' bad contracts and secure high-end draft picks.
The NHL's salary ceiling going up more significantly means more teams would be willing and able to entertain a trade for the likes of an Elias Pettersson or JT Miller from the Canucks. And it decreases the likelihood that an elite player like Mikko Rantanen or Mitch Marner actually hits the open market this summer. (My take: spend the money in free agency, keep the assets if you can.) Instead of the constant shuffling of players we've seen the past four to five seasons, this could allow stars and prospects to stay put, rather than the musical chairs we've seen recently.
Remember that Bedard will be due a raise when the Blackhawks are to extend him.
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Previously on HawksInsider
