Several former Montreal Canadiens players are moving on to new teams this October, a trend fueled by the willingness of NHL teams to commit significant money to players in free agency. This aggressive spending is occurring with the knowledge that the salary cap is projected to increase substantially in the coming seasons.
One notable example illustrating the thin market for centers is Christian Dvorak. He secured a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers worth $5.4 million. This is a considerable salary, especially given that the 29-year-old has yet to exceed 35 points in a single season. In the 2024-25 season, Dvorak played all 82 games for the Canadiens, recording 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists). The Flyers’ decision to offer a short-term deal at a high cost suggests they are looking to temporarily fill a roster gap, with the limited term mitigating some of the financial risk.
The NHL and NHLPA recently announced projected increases to the salary cap. For the 2025-26 season, the upper limit is set to rise to $95.5 million (a $7.5 million increase from the previous season). Further increases are projected for subsequent seasons, reaching $104 million in 2026-27 and $113.5 million in 2027-28. This long-term cap predictability is influencing how teams approach free agency, allowing them to offer more lucrative short-term deals as they anticipate greater financial flexibility in the future.