[panoo]

Canadian Press
12/4/2006 5:49:00 PM

PALM BEACH, Fla. (CP) - The team-by-team salary cap in the NHL is expected to rise to between US$46 million and $47.5 million next season.

Despite lower attendance in some markets, the league's total revenues are on thre rise. This salary cap is currently $44 million.

"There's not going to be a dip," Ted Saskin, executive director of the NHL Players' Association, said after addressing NHL owners. "The cap's definitely going to increase based on everything I've seen so far."

Saskin would not say exactly how much, but the early word out of the Board of Govenors' meeting Monday was that revenues were expected to grow about five per cent this season, at least according to early projections, which translates into a $47.5-million salary cap.

"We're clearly going to have revenue growth," said Saskin, who spoke to reporters while owners continued to meet at the posh resort.

Last season's final revenue number was $2.178 billion, way ahead of the projected $1.8 billion, which in turn raised the salary cap from $39 million to $44 million. A five per cent growth in revenues this season would translate into about $2.286 billion and a $47.5 million salary cap for next year.

FULL STORY

 

[Canuck]

I guess thats pretty good, now teams can sign a few more cheaps players or can sign one more very good player that is expensive.

 

[imported_shookem]

When I first read this I was shocked. All I've heard was that attendence was down and the league was losing money. I'm glad to hear otherwise though.

 

[BE-LEAF-ABLE]

I guess it has to do with the raising of ticket prices. Somehow it must have played at bit of a part in there.

47.5? That's an extra $3.5M, which is pretty much 1 more very good player per team. I think this new Salary Cap Structure thing can only help the league if the NHL continues to handle it properly.