What year did the NHL introduce the salary cap?

What year did the NHL introduce the salary cap? The NHL introduced its salary cap in 2005.

The cap was created as part of the collective bargaining agreement that ended the 2004–05 lockout. The agreement established a league-wide upper limit on team payrolls, with the exact cap calculated from hockey-related revenue. The system first operated during the 2005–06 season, making 2005 the key introduction year.

Before the cap, NHL teams could spend vastly different amounts on player salaries, giving wealthy clubs more freedom to assemble expensive rosters. The new system was designed to improve competitive balance and give teams more predictable financial planning. It also included a salary floor, requiring clubs to spend at least a specified amount.

A common source of confusion is the difference between the agreement year and the first season of play. The collective bargaining deal was reached in 2005, while the first salary-cap season was 2005–06. The cap is not a fixed amount forever: it changes as league revenues change, and the NHL and players’ association jointly determine its annual level.