Breaking: Caps place key player on LTIR

The Washington Capitals are in a troublesome situation. Matt Niskanen fell to injury Friday night.

#Caps put No. 1 defenseman Matt Niskanen on LTIR, call him week to week with upper-body injury. On LTIR, he must be out 10 games/24 days.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) October 14, 2017

Due to a tight salary cap situation, the Caps had to make a difficult decision this morning.

An important thing to keep in mind if Niskanen's injury causes him to miss any time ... https://t.co/TSi6sQQHOn pic.twitter.com/1zapRtLtTV
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) October 14, 2017

The Caps have recalled Madison Bowey. Niskanen on LTIR with upper-body injury.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) October 14, 2017

The benefactor of this news is Madison Bowey, who will get the chance to play his very first NHL game. For Niskanen and the Caps, the news isn't so great.

He will have to miss a minimum of 24 days and 10 games, even if his injury doesn't end up being that severe. The only way they could fill his roster spot was by shedding his salary. The only way to do that was by placing him on LTIR.

The team's cap troubles from this summer are coming to haunt them.