NHL, NHLPA Implement Playoff Salary Cap Starting 2026 Season

The NHL and NHL Players' Association have agreed to implement a new playoff salary cap beginning with the 2025-26 season, ahead of the original 2026-27 schedule. This cap will require teams to have a 20-player playoff roster that complies with the salary cap for each game, closing loopholes where teams used long-term injured reserve (LTIR) to exceed the cap by acquiring additional players late in the season. Notable examples include the Florida Panthers, who previously exploited LTIR rules to add players like Brad Marchand and Seth Jones before playoffs while Matthew Tkachuk was on LTIR. Along with the playoff salary cap, the NHL and NHLPA are enacting other immediate changes such as banning deferred compensation in contracts, prohibiting double salary retention in trades, relaxing player dress code rules, and allowing players to endorse wine and spirits. These measures aim to promote competitive parity and financial fairness during the playoffs, altering team management and roster strategies significantly. However, some observers anticipate teams may seek new ways to navigate or circumvent the updated rules.