As one of the NHL’s most exciting teams, the Vegas Golden Knights always strive to build a championship-caliber roster. But like all NHL teams, they must navigate the complexities of the salary cap. In this post, we’ll break down the Vegas Golden Knights salary cap situation, analyze their cap space, and explore how it affects their potential moves.
How Does the NHL Salary Cap Work?
The NHL salary cap sets a limit on the total amount teams can spend on player salaries in a season. This cap is designed to create parity and ensure a competitive league. The cap figure fluctuates based on league revenue.
Vegas Golden Knights Salary Cap Breakdown
The Vegas Golden Knights are frequently pushing the boundaries of the salary cap. Their aggressive spending is aimed at acquiring top talent. To understand their financial position, let’s look at their current cap commitments.
- Player Salaries: A significant portion of the Golden Knights’ cap space is allocated to their star players. Key contracts and their cap hits need close examination.
- LTIR: Players on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) provide cap relief. The Golden Knights may strategically use LTIR to create flexibility.
- Buried Cap: Teams can “bury” contracts in the minors to gain minor cap relief. Vegas’ buried cap amounts need to be considered.
Vegas Golden Knights Cap Space
The Golden Knights’ cap space is a dynamic figure. It changes with trades, injuries, and roster moves. Understanding their cap space is crucial for assessing potential signings or trades.
Implications for the Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights salary cap situation directly influences their roster decisions. Here are some key implications:
- Trade Possibilities: Limited cap space may force the Golden Knights to creatively structure trades or include draft picks as sweeteners.
- Free Agent Signings: Their cap situation may limit major free-agent acquisitions, requiring them to find value signings.
- Roster Flexibility: The Golden Knights may need to make difficult salary-shedding moves to accommodate upgrades.
Stay Updated on Golden Knights News
For the latest Vegas Golden Knights trade rumors, salary cap analysis, and the Golden Knights TV schedule, be sure to visit our website. We provide up-to-the-minute updates and insights to keep you informed about your favorite team.
Vegas Golden Knights Salary Cap – Golden Knights Cap Space
| FORWARDS | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | 2029-30 | TERMS | POS | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eichel, Jack "A" | $10,000,000 | $10,000,000 | UFA | NMC | C | 27 | |||
| Stone, Mark "C" | $9,500,000 | $9,500,000 | $9,500,000 | UFA | NMC | RW | 32 | ||
| Hertl, Tomas "A" | $6,750,000 | $6,750,000 | $6,750,000 | $6,750,000 | $6,750,000 | $6,750,000 | RSNMC | C | 30 |
| Karlsson, William "A" | $5,900,000 | $5,900,000 | $5,900,000 | UFA | M-NTC | C | 31 | ||
| Barbashev, Ivan | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | UFA | M-NTC | LW, RW | 28 | |
| Roy, Nicolas | $3,000,000 | $3,000,000 | $3,000,000 | UFA | C, RW | 27 | |||
| Howden, Brett | $1,900,000 | UFA | C, LW | 26 | |||||
| Dorofeyev, Pavel | $1,835,000 | $1,835,000 | RFA | LW, RW | 23 | ||||
| Kolesar, Keegan | $1,400,000 | UFA | RW | 27 | |||||
| Olofsson, Victor | $1,075,000 | UFA | RW, LW | 28 | |||||
| Brisson, Brendan | $925,000 | RFA | ELC | C, LW, RW | 22 | ||||
| Holtz, Alexander | $894,167 | RFA | ELC | RW, LW | 22 | ||||
| Røndbjerg, Jonas | $766,667 | RFA | LW, RW | 25 | |||||
| TOTAL | $48,945,834 | $41,985,000 | $30,150,000 | $11,750,000 | $6,750,000 | $6,750,000 | 26.8 | ||
| DEFENSE | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | 2029-30 | TERMS | POS | AGE |
| Pietrangelo, Alex "A" | $8,800,000 | $8,800,000 | $8,800,000 | UFA | NMC | RD | 34 | ||
| Hanifin, Noah | $7,350,000 | $7,350,000 | $7,350,000 | $7,350,000 | $7,350,000 | $7,350,000 | NTC | LD | 27 |
| Theodore, Shea | $5,200,000 | UFA | M-NTC | LD/RD | 28 | ||||
| McNabb, Brayden | $2,850,000 | UFA | M-NTC | LD | 33 | ||||
| Whitecloud, Zach | $2,750,000 | $2,750,000 | $2,750,000 | $2,750,000 | UFA | RD | 27 | ||
| Hague, Nicolas | $2,294,150 | RFA | LD | 25 | |||||
| Hutton, Ben | $975,000 | $975,000 | UFA | LD | 31 | ||||
| Korczak, Kaedan | $825,000 | $825,000 | RFA | RD | 23 | ||||
| TOTAL | $31,044,150 | $20,700,000 | $18,900,000 | $10,100,000 | $7,350,000 | $7,350,000 | 28.5 | ||
| GOALIES | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | 2029-30 | TERMS | POS | AGE |
| Hill, Adin | $4,900,000 | UFA | M-NTC | G | 28 | ||||
| Samsonov, Ilya | $1,800,000 | UFA | G | 27 | |||||
| TOTAL | $6,700,000 | 27.5 | |||||||
| LONG-TERM INJURED RESERVE | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | 2029-30 | TERMS | POS | AGE |
| Lehner, Robin | $5,000,000 | UFA | M-NTC | G | 32 | ||||
| TOTAL | $5,000,000 | 32 | |||||||
| ROSTER & BURIED CAP HIT | $91,689,984 | $62,685,000 | $49,050,000 | $21,850,000 | $14,100,000 | $14,100,000 | |||
| DEAD CAP HIT | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| CARRYOVER BONUS OVERAGES | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| PROJECTED CAP HIT | $91,689,984 | $62,685,000 | $49,050,000 | $21,850,000 | $14,100,000 | $14,100,000 | |||
| SALARY CAP | $88,000,000 | $92,000,000 | $92,000,000 | $92,000,000 | $92,000,000 | $92,000,000 | |||
| PROJECTED CAP SPACE | ($3,689,984) | $29,315,000 | $42,950,000 | $70,150,000 | $77,900,000 | $77,900,000 |