CBA Update

[TheJackBurton]

Frank Seravalli
@frank_seravalli
·
52m
Sources: The #NHL and #NHLPA have agreed to a rolling implementation schedule for CBA changes.

Among them: the new playoff salary cap system will come into effect *this season* for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.

No gaming the system this year boys

[TruBlueFan_1970]

Can’t remember what they agreed to. Is it full roster complaince, or the cap of the 20 players iced each night, or something else. Guessing it’s not full roster, unless the call-ups and black aces don’t count against the playoff cap unless they play.

I’ll try to look this up, but was just being lazy!

[TheJackBurton]

Can’t remember what they agreed to. Is it full roster complaince, or the cap of the 20 players iced each night, or something else. Guessing it’s not full roster, unless the call-ups and black aces don’t count against the playoff cap unless they play.

I’ll try to look this up, but was just being lazy!

I'm pretty sure it's the full roster. Doesn't make sense to have it only be the 20 on the ice.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

Can’t remember what they agreed to. Is it full roster complaince, or the cap of the 20 players iced each night, or something else. Guessing it’s not full roster, unless the call-ups and black aces don’t count against the playoff cap unless they play.

I’ll try to look this up, but was just being lazy!

I'm pretty sure it's the full roster. Doesn't make sense to have it only be the 20 on the ice.

I just looked it up. It’s the 20-man roster for each game that must be compliant. Most teams, other than maybe FLA should be fine. FLA might need to drop a guy though….it will be close.

[STL fan in MN]

Can’t remember what they agreed to. Is it full roster complaince, or the cap of the 20 players iced each night, or something else. Guessing it’s not full roster, unless the call-ups and black aces don’t count against the playoff cap unless they play.

I’ll try to look this up, but was just being lazy!

I'm pretty sure it's the full roster. Doesn't make sense to have it only be the 20 on the ice.

It’s the 20 (or less) on the ice. You just have to ice a team that’s Cap complaint. So not as strict as the regular season rule but it’s something.

[TheJackBurton]

Can’t remember what they agreed to. Is it full roster complaince, or the cap of the 20 players iced each night, or something else. Guessing it’s not full roster, unless the call-ups and black aces don’t count against the playoff cap unless they play.

I’ll try to look this up, but was just being lazy!

I'm pretty sure it's the full roster. Doesn't make sense to have it only be the 20 on the ice.

I just looked it up. It’s the 20-man roster for each game that must be compliant. Most teams, other than maybe FLA should be fine. FLA might need to drop a guy though….it will be close.

That's just idiotic. Vegas iced a cap compliant team. They had 18 million sitting in the pressbox

[TheJackBurton]

Can’t remember what they agreed to. Is it full roster complaince, or the cap of the 20 players iced each night, or something else. Guessing it’s not full roster, unless the call-ups and black aces don’t count against the playoff cap unless they play.

I’ll try to look this up, but was just being lazy!

I'm pretty sure it's the full roster. Doesn't make sense to have it only be the 20 on the ice.

It’s the 20 (or less) on the ice. You just have to ice a team that’s Cap complaint. So not as strict as the regular season rule but it’s something.

Well like I said up above, that doesn't do much. Vegas iced a cap compliant team but had close to 20 million sitting in the press box. This league simply can't get out of its own way.

[Bubble4427]

Can’t remember what they agreed to. Is it full roster complaince, or the cap of the 20 players iced each night, or something else. Guessing it’s not full roster, unless the call-ups and black aces don’t count against the playoff cap unless they play.

I’ll try to look this up, but was just being lazy!

I'm pretty sure it's the full roster. Doesn't make sense to have it only be the 20 on the ice.

It’s the 20 (or less) on the ice. You just have to ice a team that’s Cap complaint. So not as strict as the regular season rule but it’s something.

Well like I said up above, that doesn't do much. Vegas iced a cap compliant team but had close to 20 million sitting in the press box. This league simply can't get out of its own way.

Vegas played the system at least once (with Stone)….and Tampa did it with Kucherov.
It was a loophole that had to be closed. I’m glad it’s done.

[TheJackBurton]

Can’t remember what they agreed to. Is it full roster complaince, or the cap of the 20 players iced each night, or something else. Guessing it’s not full roster, unless the call-ups and black aces don’t count against the playoff cap unless they play.

I’ll try to look this up, but was just being lazy!

I'm pretty sure it's the full roster. Doesn't make sense to have it only be the 20 on the ice.

It’s the 20 (or less) on the ice. You just have to ice a team that’s Cap complaint. So not as strict as the regular season rule but it’s something.

Well like I said up above, that doesn't do much. Vegas iced a cap compliant team but had close to 20 million sitting in the press box. This league simply can't get out of its own way.

Vegas played the system at least once (with Stone)….and Tampa did it with Kucherov.
It was a loophole that had to be closed. I’m glad it’s done.

Yeah, but like I said this rule wouldn't have prevented what they put on the ice, the overage was in the pressbox.

Now if they had to be cap compliant, then Vegas and Tampa would have had some incredibly difficult decisions to make.

[Bubble4427]

Can’t remember what they agreed to. Is it full roster complaince, or the cap of the 20 players iced each night, or something else. Guessing it’s not full roster, unless the call-ups and black aces don’t count against the playoff cap unless they play.

I’ll try to look this up, but was just being lazy!

I'm pretty sure it's the full roster. Doesn't make sense to have it only be the 20 on the ice.

It’s the 20 (or less) on the ice. You just have to ice a team that’s Cap complaint. So not as strict as the regular season rule but it’s something.

Well like I said up above, that doesn't do much. Vegas iced a cap compliant team but had close to 20 million sitting in the press box. This league simply can't get out of its own way.

Vegas played the system at least once (with Stone)….and Tampa did it with Kucherov.
It was a loophole that had to be closed. I’m glad it’s done.

Yeah, but like I said this rule wouldn't have prevented what they put on the ice, the overage was in the pressbox.

Now if they had to be cap compliant, then Vegas and Tampa would have had some incredibly difficult decisions to make.

The overage was not in the press box. There have been 4 teams since 2015 that fielded “illegal” teams that were over the cap. If the current rules were in place….Chicago, Tampa, Vegas, and The Panthers would have been screwed.

[bluetunehead]

Can’t remember what they agreed to. Is it full roster complaince, or the cap of the 20 players iced each night, or something else. Guessing it’s not full roster, unless the call-ups and black aces don’t count against the playoff cap unless they play.

I’ll try to look this up, but was just being lazy!

I'm pretty sure it's the full roster. Doesn't make sense to have it only be the 20 on the ice.

It’s the 20 (or less) on the ice. You just have to ice a team that’s Cap complaint. So not as strict as the regular season rule but it’s something.

Well like I said up above, that doesn't do much. Vegas iced a cap compliant team but had close to 20 million sitting in the press box. This league simply can't get out of its own way.

Vegas played the system at least once (with Stone)….and Tampa did it with Kucherov.
It was a loophole that had to be closed. I’m glad it’s done.

Yeah, but like I said this rule wouldn't have prevented what they put on the ice, the overage was in the pressbox.

Now if they had to be cap compliant, then Vegas and Tampa would have had some incredibly difficult decisions to make.

The overage was not in the press box. There have been 4 teams since 2015 that fielded “illegal” teams that were over the cap. If the current rules were in place….Chicago, Tampa, Vegas, and The Panthers would have been screwed.

The cap hit of the on-ice 20 man roster for Vegas’s cup clinching win in Game 5 of 2023 was about 77.5M, below the 82.5M salary cap.

They were over the cap with the rest of the roster off the ice that were either still injured or scratched (Lehner, Nolan Patrick, Logan Thompson, etc.).

[Pierre McGuire]

It’s only good until the next loophole is found…

[TheJackBurton]

Can’t remember what they agreed to. Is it full roster complaince, or the cap of the 20 players iced each night, or something else. Guessing it’s not full roster, unless the call-ups and black aces don’t count against the playoff cap unless they play.

I’ll try to look this up, but was just being lazy!

I'm pretty sure it's the full roster. Doesn't make sense to have it only be the 20 on the ice.

It’s the 20 (or less) on the ice. You just have to ice a team that’s Cap complaint. So not as strict as the regular season rule but it’s something.

Well like I said up above, that doesn't do much. Vegas iced a cap compliant team but had close to 20 million sitting in the press box. This league simply can't get out of its own way.

Vegas played the system at least once (with Stone)….and Tampa did it with Kucherov.
It was a loophole that had to be closed. I’m glad it’s done.

Yeah, but like I said this rule wouldn't have prevented what they put on the ice, the overage was in the pressbox.

Now if they had to be cap compliant, then Vegas and Tampa would have had some incredibly difficult decisions to make.

The overage was not in the press box. There have been 4 teams since 2015 that fielded “illegal” teams that were over the cap. If the current rules were in place….Chicago, Tampa, Vegas, and The Panthers would have been screwed.

Unfortunately, at least for Vegas it was. I was shocked when I did the math because I was positive they had like 92 or 93 million on the ice, but nope they were below the cap.

Now the others I haven't checked yet, but at least for Vegas this rule would have made no difference.

[Bubble4427]

Can’t remember what they agreed to. Is it full roster complaince, or the cap of the 20 players iced each night, or something else. Guessing it’s not full roster, unless the call-ups and black aces don’t count against the playoff cap unless they play.

I’ll try to look this up, but was just being lazy!

I'm pretty sure it's the full roster. Doesn't make sense to have it only be the 20 on the ice.

It’s the 20 (or less) on the ice. You just have to ice a team that’s Cap complaint. So not as strict as the regular season rule but it’s something.

Well like I said up above, that doesn't do much. Vegas iced a cap compliant team but had close to 20 million sitting in the press box. This league simply can't get out of its own way.

Vegas played the system at least once (with Stone)….and Tampa did it with Kucherov.
It was a loophole that had to be closed. I’m glad it’s done.

Yeah, but like I said this rule wouldn't have prevented what they put on the ice, the overage was in the pressbox.

Now if they had to be cap compliant, then Vegas and Tampa would have had some incredibly difficult decisions to make.

The overage was not in the press box. There have been 4 teams since 2015 that fielded “illegal” teams that were over the cap. If the current rules were in place….Chicago, Tampa, Vegas, and The Panthers would have been screwed.

Unfortunately, at least for Vegas it was. I was shocked when I did the math because I was positive they had like 92 or 93 million on the ice, but nope they were below the cap.

Now the others I haven't checked yet, but at least for Vegas this rule would have made no difference.

From the Athletic yesterday….

“ The main impact of adding a postseason salary cap will be an end to teams being able to stash players on long-term injured reserve and use that additional cap space to add more talent before the playoffs.

The Chicago Blackhawks (2015), Tampa Bay Lightning (2021), Vegas Golden Knights (2023) and Florida Panthers (2025) are all examples of teams that employed LTIR to remove injured star players from the cap temporarily, only to have them return for the postseason. All four won the Stanley Cup that season.”

Tampa was 18 million over….they even bragged about it and made t-shirts…

Another article
https://www.novasportslaw.com/post/the- ... tanley-cup

[bluetunehead]

Can’t remember what they agreed to. Is it full roster complaince, or the cap of the 20 players iced each night, or something else. Guessing it’s not full roster, unless the call-ups and black aces don’t count against the playoff cap unless they play.

I’ll try to look this up, but was just being lazy!

I'm pretty sure it's the full roster. Doesn't make sense to have it only be the 20 on the ice.

It’s the 20 (or less) on the ice. You just have to ice a team that’s Cap complaint. So not as strict as the regular season rule but it’s something.

Well like I said up above, that doesn't do much. Vegas iced a cap compliant team but had close to 20 million sitting in the press box. This league simply can't get out of its own way.

Vegas played the system at least once (with Stone)….and Tampa did it with Kucherov.
It was a loophole that had to be closed. I’m glad it’s done.

Yeah, but like I said this rule wouldn't have prevented what they put on the ice, the overage was in the pressbox.

Now if they had to be cap compliant, then Vegas and Tampa would have had some incredibly difficult decisions to make.

The overage was not in the press box. There have been 4 teams since 2015 that fielded “illegal” teams that were over the cap. If the current rules were in place….Chicago, Tampa, Vegas, and The Panthers would have been screwed.

Unfortunately, at least for Vegas it was. I was shocked when I did the math because I was positive they had like 92 or 93 million on the ice, but nope they were below the cap.

Now the others I haven't checked yet, but at least for Vegas this rule would have made no difference.

From the Athletic yesterday….

“ The main impact of adding a postseason salary cap will be an end to teams being able to stash players on long-term injured reserve and use that additional cap space to add more talent before the playoffs.

The Chicago Blackhawks (2015), Tampa Bay Lightning (2021), Vegas Golden Knights (2023) and Florida Panthers (2025) are all examples of teams that employed LTIR to remove injured star players from the cap temporarily, only to have them return for the postseason. All four won the Stanley Cup that season.”

Tampa was 18 million over….they even bragged about it and made t-shirts…

Another article
https://www.novasportslaw.com/post/the- ... tanley-cup

Yeah but the point is that the new rule stipulates that the players actually suiting up for a playoff game (18 skaters, 2 goalies) is all that has to be cap compliant, which is different than the regular season. That change would *not* have prevented Vegas from winning their Cup. Their on-ice cap hit in the Cup Final was about 5M below the cap.

But to your point... the team that Tampa had on the ice for their Cup win in 2021 had a cap hit of 89M... about 7.5M over the salary cap. This new rule would have hurt them in a big way.

[TheJackBurton]

Can’t remember what they agreed to. Is it full roster complaince, or the cap of the 20 players iced each night, or something else. Guessing it’s not full roster, unless the call-ups and black aces don’t count against the playoff cap unless they play.

I’ll try to look this up, but was just being lazy!

I'm pretty sure it's the full roster. Doesn't make sense to have it only be the 20 on the ice.

It’s the 20 (or less) on the ice. You just have to ice a team that’s Cap complaint. So not as strict as the regular season rule but it’s something.

Well like I said up above, that doesn't do much. Vegas iced a cap compliant team but had close to 20 million sitting in the press box. This league simply can't get out of its own way.

Vegas played the system at least once (with Stone)….and Tampa did it with Kucherov.
It was a loophole that had to be closed. I’m glad it’s done.

Yeah, but like I said this rule wouldn't have prevented what they put on the ice, the overage was in the pressbox.

Now if they had to be cap compliant, then Vegas and Tampa would have had some incredibly difficult decisions to make.

The overage was not in the press box. There have been 4 teams since 2015 that fielded “illegal” teams that were over the cap. If the current rules were in place….Chicago, Tampa, Vegas, and The Panthers would have been screwed.

Unfortunately, at least for Vegas it was. I was shocked when I did the math because I was positive they had like 92 or 93 million on the ice, but nope they were below the cap.

Now the others I haven't checked yet, but at least for Vegas this rule would have made no difference.

From the Athletic yesterday….

“ The main impact of adding a postseason salary cap will be an end to teams being able to stash players on long-term injured reserve and use that additional cap space to add more talent before the playoffs.

The Chicago Blackhawks (2015), Tampa Bay Lightning (2021), Vegas Golden Knights (2023) and Florida Panthers (2025) are all examples of teams that employed LTIR to remove injured star players from the cap temporarily, only to have them return for the postseason. All four won the Stanley Cup that season.”

Tampa was 18 million over….they even bragged about it and made t-shirts…

Another article
https://www.novasportslaw.com/post/the- ... tanley-cup

Yes, I'm aware and Tampa's was the one where I think the league really started to take notice because they purposely kept Kuch out until the playoffs because of the shortened season, and as you stated bragged about their overage.

But as both Blue and I have pointed out this rule wouldn't have done anything to prevent Vegas' shenanigans because their on ice cap hit was cap compliant. All their overage was in the press box. If the entire 23 man roster had to be cap compliant like it does in the regular season, then Vegas would have had some issues.

to me having the team on the ice being cap compliant is pretty useless if you can hide 10-12 million in the press box. Having to cut 10-12 million for the playoffs is a completely different story.