Five teams are over the salary cap, one team by almost $14 million
Washington Capitals Face Salary Cap Challenges Ahead of 2024-2025 Season
As the 2024-2025 NHL season approaches, five teams find themselves over the salary cap, including the Washington Capitals, Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, Philadelphia Flyers, and Edmonton Oilers. While teams have some time to become cap-compliant and can be up to 10 percent over the projected $88 million salary cap, the Capitals face the most challenging situation.
Currently, Washington's salary cap commitments stand at just over $102 million, which is $14 million above the projected cap for the upcoming season. To address this significant overage, the Capitals have a few potential solutions to consider before the start of the season.
"With Nicklas Backstrom expected to go back on LTIR before the puck drops on the season, the Capitals are slated to be able to save $9.2 million which leaves them with approximately $5 million to find and get rid of. However, it has been reported that Backstrom's teammate and right winger T.J. Oshie may be facing an injury that is causing him to contemplate retirement so he is another LTIR candidate to consider, which would save the Capitals another $5.75 million."
Nicklas Backstrom on LTIR:
Backstrom is expected to be placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) before the season begins, which would provide the Capitals with $9.2 million in cap relief. This move significantly reduces the overage but still leaves the team about $5 million over the cap.
T.J. Oshie on LTIR or Retirement:
Reports suggest that T.J. Oshie may be dealing with an injury severe enough to contemplate retirement. Placing Oshie on LTIR could save the Capitals an additional $5.75 million, effectively bringing them under the cap. If Oshie retires, his cap hit would also be removed, providing further relief.
Even with these moves, the Capitals may still need to explore other options to ensure compliance, such as:
Trading Players: The Capitals could look to trade players with significant cap hits to further reduce their salary obligations.
Waivers and Buyouts: The team might consider placing certain players on waivers or buying out contracts to create additional cap space.
General Manager Chris Patrick and the Capitals' front office are tasked with navigating these challenges and making the tough decisions necessary to become cap-compliant. Despite the current dire situation, NHL GMs are accustomed to managing such complexities and finding solutions that balance team competitiveness with financial constraints.
As the offseason progresses, it will be interesting to see how the Capitals maneuver through these cap challenges and what roster adjustments they make to field a competitive team for the 2024-2025 season.
Source: Blade of Steel
Five teams are currently over the cap, one team by nearly $14 million
| POLL | ||
Which team is in more danger of being over the salary cap on opening night? | ||
| Colorado Avalanche | 5 | 8.6 % |
| Edmonton Oilers | 20 | 34.5 % |
| Washington Capitals | 11 | 19 % |
| Vegas Golden Knights/Philadelphia Flyers | 22 | 37.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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