Insider drops bombshell on how NHL's latest announcement gives Avalanche a huge edge
Photo credit: Colorado Hockey Now
Insider reveals how major changes in the NHL's new Collective Bargaining Agreement could give the Colorado Avalanche a huge competitive advantage heading into the next several seasons.
Some of the new CBA changes we've been talking about all summer are reportedly set to kick in earlier than expected, and the Avalanche could be among the first teams to capitalize.
NHL hands the Avalanche a huge advantage after latest announcement.
Aarif Deen from Colorado Hockey Now writes that according to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the league and the NHL Players' Association have finalized an implementation schedule for the upcoming CBA changes.
The headline change is the introduction of a new playoff salary cap system set for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Under the updated rules, teams will no longer be able to stash players on LTIR until April and then activate them in the postseason while exceeding the salary cap.
"How could the Avs take advantage of this? Simply by having cap flexibility. The fact that the Avalanche currently have cap space flexibility already puts them at an advantage. And if that cap continues to grow and accrue over the course of the season, they'll be able to utilize it to their advantage at the trade deadline." -Deen
Most importantly, this change opens the door for the Avalanche to capitalize on contenders scrambling to remain cap compliant. And if there's one team bound to loathe the early rollout of the playoff salary cap system, it's the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, who have leaned heavily on creative LTIR maneuvering in recent years.
"Earlier in the summer, I wrote that Colorado should target Evan Rodrigues from the Panthers. He looks like the obvious odd man out if the team needs to trade someone to remain under the cap ceiling. But then rumors started to circulate that Matthew Tkachuk was going to start the season on LTIR, and that was all but confirmed in recent weeks." -Deen
For now, the Panthers have some breathing room. They don't need to move Rodrigues, or anyone else, just yet. But the clock is ticking, and eventually they'll have no choice but to make a move.
The Panthers can't rely on LTIR all year. If Tkachuk returns and another player goes down, they can delay decisions, but not until playoffs. With a healthy roster, they won't be cap compliant and can't dress anyone.
Source:
Colorado Hockey Now
NHL Insider Frank Seravalli Outlines CBA Timeline That Benefits the Avalanche
Colorado Hockey Now
NHL Insider Frank Seravalli Outlines CBA Timeline That Benefits the Avalanche
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 3 | 10 ANSWERS Insider drops bombshell on how NHL's latest announcement gives Avalanche a huge edge Will the Florida Panthers be able to keep their full roster healthy and cap-compliant under the new playoff salary cap rules? | ||
| yes | 0 | 0 % |
| no | 10 | 100 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
