So the NHLPA voted to use the 5% escalator clause, which put the cap up to $71.4M. What it means for the players, is larger escrow payments to make up any difference between the escalated cap and the actual revenue. Teams get more flexibility with a higher salary cap to sign free agents and not bury bad contracts. In exchange, each player will likely lose a % of their pay to escrow.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/n...-cap-at-71-4m/