The NHL's salary cap is taking another big jump.
At least for now.
The league announced on Thursday that the cap will rise to $70.2-million (U.S.) for 2012-13, which is up more than 9 per cent from $64.3-million last season.
The cap has nearly doubled from 2005-06 – its first year in existence – when it was just $39-million coming out of the 2004-05 lockout.
The rise means the salary floor, which is set at $16-million below the cap, will now be $54.2-million.
Under the league's current collective bargaining agreement, the NHL's floor and cap are tied directly to revenues, which hit a record $3.3-billion this past season.
That cap figure, however, is expected to change. The NHL and NHL Players' Association are set to begin negotiations on a new CBA on Friday, and one of the main targets of league ownership will be the players' share of revenue.
Based on the current system, if the players receive a lower portion of revenue, the cap will decrease accordingly, meaning the $70.2-million figure may only be in effect for the off-season.
The CBA is scheduled to expire on Sept. 15.