New CBA rules could make Avalanche's trade deadline a nightmare next season
Photo credit: Colorado Hockey Now
With the new CBA rules coming into effect regarding playoff salary cap, the Colorado Avalanche could find themselves handcuffed at the trade deadline.
The new rules state you must be under the salary cap even during the playoffs.
Avalanche could be sitting ducks at trade deadline with new CBA rule.
Nestor Quixtan of Mile High Sticking suggested that the Colorado Avalanche will not have much wiggle room come next trade deadline.
"In particular, the biggest rule change will be the playoff salary cap. As of last season, the salary cap only applied to the regular season. Once the playoffs came around, teams didn't have to worry about being cap-compliant. That's why the Colorado Avalanche were able to exceed the cap limit and then activate captain Gabriel Landeskog, who'd been on LTIR all season, in the playoffs. The move had no consequences as it was perfectly legit." -Quixtan
Although every team will face challenges at the deadline, the Avalanche are hit especially hard given their current lack of cap space.
"But if the Avalanche wanted to add anyone else, they would have to clear room to add them. That could mean the Avs will need to position themselves well ahead of the deadline. Otherwise, the Avalanche may struggle to get deals done ahead of the trade deadline next March." -Quixtan
And what happens with Ladeskog if he goes down with injury again?
They can put him on LTIR and go pick up someone else, but if Landeskog becomes healthy enough to return to the postseason, he won't be allowed to play.
If he gets injured, the Avalanche will face a tough gamble: either make a trade at the deadline and rule Landeskog out for the season, or hope he returns in time for the playoffs, forcing them to navigate those games without their top winger.
In summary, this rule being implemented is a good thing, too many teams were abusing it, most notably the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights, whom have both won Stanley Cups. But it will prove very difficult for the Avalanche and every other team to fill missing pieces on their rosters.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 7 | 14 ANSWERS New CBA rules could make Avalanche's trade deadline a nightmare next season Do you agree with the new CBA LTIR rule? | ||
| yes | 11 | 78.6 % |
| no | 3 | 21.4 % |
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