NHL raises salary cap to $70.2M for next season

The NHL's salary cap is increasing despite impending labour talks.

The league and NHL Players' Association announced the cap would increase from $64.3 million US to $70.2 million.

The lower limit on what teams must spend also rose from $48.3 million to $54.2 million.

The cap, which will only be in effect until a new collective agreement is signed, will be used by teams as they negotiate contracts through the free agency period this summer.

The current CBA expires Sept. 15.

Formal negotiations for the new labour deal begin between the league and union Friday in New York.

The introduction of a salary cap and a 24 per cent rollback of salaries were added to the current CBA after the 2004-05 season was lost to lockout.