Trade Deadline Tracker

Determining a team's cap space in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline is a confusing matter for many. Since teams are only responsible for the remaining cap hit on an acquired contract (the cap amount owing for the final 40 days rather than the full 185-day value), teams operating under the cap can take on contracts of increasing value as the trade deadline approaches.

Meanwhile, teams operating above the cap in LTI (long-term injury) mode do not see an increase in cap space as the trade deadline approaches. That's because LTI savings are not banked, meaning once available relief on a given day is not used, it's gone for good.

Our new trade deadline tracker boils down the numbers, today and at the deadline. In our "ceiling" chart, the numbers listed indicates the amount of annualized cap hit(s) a team can acquire. For example, if a team is listed with $10 million today and $25 million at the deadline, it could acquire Alexander Ovechkin's $9.538-million cap hit today and not much more. But if it waited until the trade deadline, it could acquire Ovechkin, as well as Alexandre Semin ($6.7 million cap hit), Nicklas Backstrom ($6.7 million) and Mike Knuble ($2 million), because the sum of those annualized cap hits ($24.938 million) is less than $25 million.

In our "floor" chart, we examine the teams closest to the $48.3-million lower limit. The numbers listed are the cap dollars each team can shed today and at the deadline without falling below the floor. Teams can dump more and more salary the closer it gets to the trade deadline. For example, if the Carolina Hurricanes are listed with $5 million today and $15 million at the deadline, they couldn't trade Eric Staal's $8.25-million cap hit today because it exceeds $5 million. But at the trade deadline, they could trade Staal, Tuomo Ruutu ($3.8 million) and Tim Gleason ($2.75 million), because the sum of those annualized cap hits ($14.8 million) is less than $15 million.

Please note, tagging rules may decrease some of the higher numbers listed here.

See additional notes below.

NOTES: These estimates should be used as a rough guide and cannot be relied upon for a decisive verdict on a team's cap space. The estimates are derived from our daily tracker and are based on the best information available. Teams heavy in performance bonuses may have more cap space than indicated if bonuses have been ruled unattainable by the league. Teams in long-term injured reserve situations may have slightly less cap space than indicated. CapGeek.com assumes maximum performance bonuses, except in cases where we have confirmed they have been ruled unattainable. Minor transactions (recalls, demotions) can also alter a team's listed cap space, significantly in some instances, meaning numbers can fluctuate significantly from day to day.