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NHL Sets ’15-’16 Salary Cap, What It Means For Anaheim Ducks

By Griffin Foster

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The NHLPA and the NHL announced Tuesday morning that they have set the salary cap for the 2015-2016 season at $71.4 Million. This number is near what recent projections claimed. It was however once anticipated that the cap would rise to around $73 Million, obviously that earlier projection was a bit high.

The cap limit is $71.4 Million while the cap floor is set at $52.8 Million. This means that no team may exceed $71.4 Million but must stay above a $52.8 Million dollar payroll. Teams can spend up to 10% over the $71.4 Million dollar cap limit this summer but once the season begins they must get back to under the $71.4 Million dollar upper limit.

So, what does this mean for the Anaheim Ducks?

Well, this is a good number for Ducks general manager Bob Murray. The cap could of been a bit higher but Murray has done a nice job over recent years to put his team in a good financial position to deal with a slightly lower than anticipated salary cap. Heres’s the Ducks financial situation over the next 3 seasons.

’15-’16: $51.4 M Committed to 19 players. Roughly $20 Million in Cap Space.

’16-’17: $37.5 M Committed to 9 Players.

’17-’18: $29.1 M Committed to 6 Players.

The Ducks are in a really good financial situation for time being. They are just 1 of 9 teams who are under the set ’15-’16 salary cap floor of $52.8 Million and only 7 teams have more cap space for the ’15-’16 season.

Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks /

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks cap situation is far more promising than the other teams that reached the conference finals this past season. Chicago has roughly $7.5 Million is cap space. Tampa Bay has roughly $3.5 Million in cap space. New York has roughly $12 Million in cap space. The Ducks have $20 Million in cap space, obviously very promising for Anaheim’s chances to improve an already impressive roster.

Whichever way you spin it, the Ducks are without a doubt financially stable for the time being.

2016 Summer Effect

Lindholm, Despres, Vatanen, Kesler, Andersen, Gibson, Palmieiri, Sekac and Rakell all hit free agency next summer and Bob Murray will take that into account when making moves this summer. Murray may try to workout extensions with some this offseason, during the ’15-’16 season and may also wait until next summer to extend others. Look for Murray to keep the Ducks around the $60-65 Million dollar cap hit range for this upcoming season to ensure that he does not lose any of his young talent to free agency next summer. It is easy to hope for big trades and signings, but Murray and the Ducks track record shows that they will be smart with their money in anticipation of what is to come.

Now that the cap has been set, let the predictions of signings and trades begin. The offseason has officially begun.

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