Gary Bettman and NHL receive major news for future of the salary cap

In recent years, Gary Bettman and the NHL have made much more of a conscious effort to market and grow the game than they have in the past, specifically with the United States. The league's financial success directly impacts the product on the ice, as the salary cap moves with total league revenue. One of Bettman's biggest moves recently was moving the TV rights in the USA back to ESPN, and it seems it's paying off.

With the new TV deal in the United States, the total audience for hockey has increased by over 50% amongst ages 18-34, and it's making serious waves in growing the total NHL audience. The Penguins, Bruins, and Rangers are the biggest draws on television in the states currently.

Seeing this TV deal looking like a smashing success is fantastic news for the NHL and its fans. With revenues increasing rapidly and the value of advertising increasing, the salary cap will be due to see a massive leap forward. The cap is already going up by $4M next season, and with this success, it's possible we see more sizeable increases in the coming years. When the cap rises, teams have more flexibility with roster decisions and are more likely to keep their players in free agency, or sign new ones.