The NHL’s salary cap is set to rise dramatically. For front offices, that means a new set of decisions about contracts, free agency, draft picks, and where to find an edge.
Samuel Ventura, vice president of hockey strategy and research for the Buffalo Sabres, explains how teams are modeling the effects of more cap space and adjusting the way they value players and build rosters. He also discusses how analytics has become more collaborative across hockey, from player evaluation to strategic decisions.
Ventura examines the potential of new player and puck tracking data, including how computer vision could help teams understand shooting mechanics, puck battles, and other previously hard-to measure parts of the game. He also shares what NHL teams are learning about hiring analysts in the age of AI.
