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NHL to Introduce Playoff Salary Cap Starting This Season, Source Says
The NHL addresses playoff roster abuses by enforcing a salary cap and lifts dress codes to modernize player appearance, applying changes immediately before 2026 agreements.
- Starting this season, the NHL will introduce a salary limit for the playoffs and eliminate the mandatory dress code for teams, following a new agreement with the Players Association.
- These immediate changes stem from recent collective bargaining agreement negotiations that also include closing the postseason long-term injured reserve loophole and other trade restrictions.
- For each playoff game, teams must now field a 20-player roster that complies with the salary cap, ending previous practices that allowed larger or non-compliant lineups during the postseason.
- Teams such as Chicago in 2015 and Tampa Bay in 2021 benefited from having no salary cap during the playoffs, which allowed them to secure Stanley Cup victories and highlights the importance of this rule change for maintaining competitive fairness.
- The adjustments suggest a shift toward greater regulatory control in postseason player salaries and set the stage for further changes in the 2026-27 season including longer regular seasons and reduced contract lengths.
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15 Articles
15 Articles
Herald Bulletin+6 Reposted by 6 other sources
NHL to implement a playoff salary cap beginning this season, AP source says
The NHL will implement a playoff salary cap and remove player dress code requirements beginning this season, a person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press. The league and Players' Association agreed to those changes as part of…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources15
Leaning Left7Leaning Right1Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution70% Left
Bias Distribution
- 70% of the sources lean Left
70% Left
L 70%
C 20%
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