The NHL was expected to go on a spending spree this offseason. The NHL salary cap rose to $95.5 million for the 2025-26 season. However, the spending hasn't been as high as many expected. As of August 8th, there's over $185 million in cap space remaining available across the NHL.
With defenseman Luke Hughes' contract still unsigned, the New Jersey Devils are sitting on around $6 million in cap space. Winger Ondrej Palat's $6 million AAV contract has since become one of the biggest impediments to Tom Fitzgerald's flexibility.
In fact, Palat’s full no-move clause has now transitioned to a 10-team trade list, giving the Devils more room to negotiate with a broader set of teams.