DALLAS, TX -On Wednesday, National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the 2018-19 season salary cap is expected to be anywhere from $79.5 million to $80 million.
Oilers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Peter Chiarelli discussed how he prepared for the increase.
"We all try to peg the cap when we do our planning week-to-week and month-to-month until we're told what it is," Chiarelli started. "It's a gradual acknowledgment of what it's going to be. I don't think it's really any surprise to any of us, the GMs, where it's going to be."
The payroll range has increased almost every year since it was introduced in the 2005-06 season when it was set at $39 million. Last year, the cap was $75 million and in the 2016-17 campaign, it topped at $73 million.
BLOG: Chiarelli, management staff prepared for increase in salary cap
"We all try to peg the cap when we do our planning week-to-week and month-to-month until we're told what it is," said Oilers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Peter Chiarelli
© Ryan Frankson
