NHLers reflect league’s cash-infused off-season

SPORTS NHLers reflect league’s cash-infused off-season By Joshua Clipperton The Canadian Press Posted September 23, 2026 12:08 pm 5 min read LEAVE A COMMENT SHARE THIS ITEM ON FACEBOOK SHARE THIS ITEM ON X SEND THIS PAGE TO SOMEONE VIA EMAIL SEE MORE SHARING OPTIONS DESCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE INCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE Leo Carlsson was in the car with his dad when the phone rang. The Anaheim Ducks centre’s agent was on the other end. Carlsson couldn’t believe the numbers being rattled off. “I was surprised,” he said at the NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas earlier this month. “A weird feeling, (but it’s) where the league is heading.” The Philadelphia Flyers were proposing an eye-popping five-year, US$90-million offer sheet in restricted free agency carrying a record-breaking — for a few weeks, at least — average annual value of $18 million to pry Carlsson out of California. He signed the deal and the Ducks eventually matched to keep the 21-year-old in their brood. Carlsson putting pen to paper, however, was one of many lucrative pacts agreed to during hockey’s cash-heavy summer. STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT The NHL’s salary cap is jumping to $104 million in 2026-27, up from $95.5 million last season and a far cry from the flat $81.5-million-to-$83.25-million range coming off the COVID-19 pandemic. The system is now flush with currency thanks in part to big-money national television contracts and increased advertising revenue. Players are taking advantage. “These deals are crazy,” Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser said. “Definitely didn’t see that coming, but it’s awesome.” The biggest swings saw Chicago Blackhawks centre Connor Bedard snag a five-year, $75-million extension ($15M AAV), San Jose Sharks counterpart Macklin Celebrini get $94-million ($18.8M AAV) over the same term, and Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar secure an eight-year, $163.2-million agreement ($20.4M AAV). “It shows where the cap’s going and where the league’s going,” Celebrini said. “An amazing thing.” The NHL has historically been well behind the NFL, NBA and MLB in terms of compensation. The gap remains wide, but has closed some over the last stretch. Related Videos 1:53 Protestors against Formenton signing gather ahead of Edmonton Oilers preseason game Protestors against Formenton signing gather ahead of Edmonton Oilers preseason game Edmonton Oilers GM speaks about Alex Formenton signing Remembering Cal Nichols and his role in keeping the…