With the 2019-20 season on the brink of cancellation, the NHL is already considering the financial implications. No playoffs means millions of dollars lost in ticket revenue, concession sales and television ad sales income. There’s no way to look at it except as a disaster.
One sure impact will be on the salary cap. Once estimated to grow to as much as $88 million, now the best estimates are that it will remain at the $81.5 million it was for the current season. All teams budget for an annual increase and if there is none next season, there will be teams that won’t be able to afford all of their players.