what was the lowest total team cap salary in the NHL in 2025-26
The lowest NHL team salary cap floor for 2025-26 was $70.6 million. The league’s salary cap ceiling that season was $95.5 million , so the minimum possible team payroll under the cap system was set at the floor, not below it.
Quick Scoop
- Lowest total team cap salary: $70.6 million
- 2025-26 NHL salary cap ceiling: $95.5 million
- That means no team could legally finish the season below the floor without being subject to league rules and penalties tied to cap compliance.
Context
If you meant the lowest actual team payroll/cap hit by a club , that would also have been constrained by the same floor for 2025-26. The floor is the important number when asking for the “lowest total team cap salary” in a capped league season.
Table
| Item | 2025-26 NHL figure |
|---|---|
| Salary cap floor | $70.6 million | [12]
| Salary cap ceiling | $95.5 million | [6][12]
TL;DR
The lowest allowable total team cap salary in the NHL for 2025-26 was $70.6 million.
