NHL salary cap could remain at $81.5 million for next three seasons

The NHL salary cap rising within the next three seasons doesn't sound so promising amid the coronavirus pandemic, but the league and players' association are working to get a deal done that would extend the current CBA.

If the salary cap doesn't rise, many teams will be forced to make some very difficult decisions, and Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman essentially noted that things likely won't improve for a while.

"As part of the agreement, the salary cap will be kept close to the current $81.5 million for the next three seasons," Friedman reported Thursday. "There is potential for it to go up $1 million in 2022-23."

Other points of discussion include an escrow cap and salary deferrals for players. The potential agreement between the two sides caps escrow at 20 percent for the 2020-21 season, according to Friedman, and it comes after original estimates had escrow at 35 percent if the season wasn't completed.

Several players have voiced their frustrations with the league amid discussions, including New York Ranger star Artemi Panarin, who stated high escrow levels are protecting the owners' income.