NHL Trade Landscape Shifts as new Collective Bargaining Agreement Rules Arrive Sooner
Montreal – National Hockey League teams, including those led by general managers like Kent hughes, face a more complex trade surroundings as key changes to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) are now slated to take effect beginning with the 2025-2026 season – a year earlier than initially planned. the alterations, impacting the long-term injured reserve (LTIR) and playoff salary cap, are expected to considerably complicate player transactions.
Multiple media outlets reported Tuesday that the previously scheduled September 15, 2026 implementation date has been accelerated. Sources close to TVA Sports indicate the increased difficulty in completing trades is a direct result of these accelerated regulations.A key change involves how team payroll is calculated. During the regular season, payroll is a daily, recalculated figure allowing teams to create cap space through daily savings. Though,during the playoffs,the league will utilize a player’s annualized salary - the ”Cap Hit” – a fixed figure that doesn’t fluctuate daily,as detailed by Puckpedia.
This means teams acquiring players at the trade deadline will need to account for the full annualized salary of that player promptly, even if recently added to the institution. The benefit of regular-season cap maneuvering will be diminished, as teams must adhere to the stricter playoff regulations. Playoff rosters are limited to 20 players, which offers a slight reduction in accounting complexity.
The long-term injured reserve will also become a less potent tool for teams. The new rules limit LTIR relief to the average NHL salary from the previous season – approximately $4 million for 2024-2025 – for players expected to return during the season or playoffs. For players whose seasons and playoff eligibility are concluded, the maximum reduction remains at the player’s full annualized salary. The situation remains unchanged for players like Carey Price, who has been unofficially retired as 2022.
