Connor McDavid could reach unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2028, and the Canadiens are projected to have the room to chase him.
The number surfaced in a Journal de Montréal breakdown heading into tonight's game in Toronto. Montreal projects $47.17 million in open space for 2028-29.
It rests on a projected ceiling of $127.5 million that season. That would be potentially the biggest spike the league has ever seen.
On paper, Montreal's figure looks ordinary. Tampa Bay projects $63.52 million, and several other clubs sit ahead of the Canadiens too.
But look at who's already signed. Montreal has seven forwards, four defensemen and one goalie locked in for 2028-29, and the entire core lives inside that group.
Kent Hughes saw the salary explosion coming and closed his biggest files early, at prices built on the old cap numbers. Noah Dobson carries a $9,500,000 cap hit on that blue line.
Kent Hughes beat the NHL cap spike before agents cashed in
The ceiling has been held down on purpose. The league and the players' association locked in projections back in January 2025, topping out at $113.5 million for 2027-28.
Those numbers ignored the 50-50 revenue split. Hockey-related revenue hit $7.4 billion in mixed currency last season, and the gap was enormous.
Agents knew it. And this summer's contracts showed it.
Edmonton's superstar ranks 10th in the league at $12,500,000 against the cap. Leon Draisaitl, at $14,000,000, costs the Oilers more than the best player on their own bench.
So why would McDavid ever leave? He could simply extend if things click with Mike Babcock, who took over behind the Edmonton bench in June.
The Oilers are rolling, too. They carry a four-game winning streak into tonight's home date with Vancouver after handling Calgary 4-1 on Saturday.
Here's the part that should keep Stan Bowman up at night. McDavid holds a full no-movement clause, so any trade happens only where he wants to go.
If Edmonton lets this reach the open market, that's a franchise-level failure. No front office survives watching that walk out the door for nothing.
Think of Montreal's cap sheet as a reserved table at the best restaurant in town. The candles are lit. The guest hasn't called.
And the Canadiens have been burned before. How many free agents have flirted with Montreal just to drive up their price somewhere else?
The prospect pool helps. It ranked third according to The Athletic in August, with Michael Hage, Alexander Zharovsky and Gleb Pugachyov capable of filling spots on entry-level deals.
Toronto sits on $55.35 million of its own 2028 room, with Auston Matthews also unsigned past that season. Montreal visits the Leafs tonight.
Hughes can build the perfect cap sheet. He can't make Edmonton blink.
-
Should Kent Hughes keep that 2028 cap space open for Connor McDavid?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
The Jets' star goalie Connor Hellebuyck just hit rock bottom
