How many years are left on your favorite NHL player’s contract? What is their cap hit versus their actual salary? Are they waivers exempt? Which teams have enough cap space to sign them?
Answers to these questions and more can be found at CapFriendly.com, but not for much longer. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Washington Capitals have agreed to purchase the website for their exclusive use.
CapFriendly, a leading source for NHL roster moves and contract information, will remain publicly available through the 2024 NHL Draft and the start of free agency. The sale to the Capitals is expected to close sometime after July 5th, after which the site will go offline.
Friedman also reported that NHL teams with agreements to use CapFriendly’s tools and programming were recently informed that those contracts would soon be terminated.
CapFriendly’s History
CapFriendly launched in 2015 after its predecessor, CapGeek, went dark due to the death of its creator, Matthew Wuest, from colon cancer. CapFriendly pays homage to CapGeek on its “About” page, recognizing it as the first site to provide comprehensive NHL salary cap information.
Inspired by CapGeek, CapFriendly merged with another site, Hockey’s Cap, in 2016. CapFriendly’s owner and co-director, Dominik Zrim, has served in roles such as Director of Salary Cap Management and CBA Compliance for the San Jose Sharks and Manager of Hockey Strategy for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Since 2016, CapFriendly has been a free resource for NHL teams, fans, and media, offering data on players’ salaries, contract terms, CBA rights, and teams’ total cap hits. It also explains CBA provisions and features tools for buyouts, waivers, qualifying offers, arbitration, offer sheets, and income tax calculations.
Capitals Will Now Have Exclusive Access to CapFriendly’s Tools
CapFriendly’s tools have become vital for NHL organizations, making it advantageous for the Capitals to keep this information exclusive. The site provides contract comparison tools, scouting reports, salary expense trackers, and interactive simulators for custom rosters, mock drafts, and trade proposals.
Alternatives to CapFriendly for Public Use
Other cap-tracking sites like PuckPedia, which recently underwent a redesign, offer similar features. PuckPedia describes itself as “the Ultimate Source for Hockey Fans and Professionals” and includes interactive tools, an Agent Leaderboard, educational resources, and more.
