NHL salaries are rising with the cap, and the new reality isn’t as crazy as it seems. Kaprizov’s $17M AAV anchors Minnesota’s long-term plan as cap growth to about $113M in two years opens space for big-money extensions. The market now prizes proven scorers and blue-liners who can be fit into the payroll, even if a few young players land $9M deals. The chatter centers on whether we’ll see “superteams” emerge as a real strategy with the cap expanding, while teams guard against overpaying rookies who may not yet justify top-tier money.

Fantasy leagues should note that rising ceilings make mid-tier stars more valuable and give teams latitude to lock in depth. The next wave of contracts will test the balance between elite top-lines and supporting casts, with price tags reshuffling player value across positions in the process.