NHL officially rushes new salary cap rules into place for the upcoming season

This just in from NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the NHL and the NHLPA have agreed to fast track some of their new operating changes for the upcoming season.

Previously, the league and the union agreed to a "rolling schedule" to implement CBA changes, but Seravalli reports today that the new changes to the league's playoff salary cap system will go into effect for the upcoming season. This means that teams will have to be under the salary cap for both the regular season and the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

From Seravalli:

Honestly... it's about time.

Teams have been exploiting this loophole for well over a decade now. The Florida Panthers just put up back to back Stanley Cup championships thanks in large part to this loophole. They simply sat players out with "injury" for the regular season to stay under the salary cap before inserting them into the lineup for the post-season when the salary cap doesn't count.

Hell, remember Nikita Kucherov sitting out an entire season for the Tampa Bay Lighting back in 2021? He didn't play a single game in the regular season and then dominated the post-season in scoring with 32 points in 23 games. Now, teams won't be able to get away with these types of shenanigans.

More from Seravalli:

You hear that boys? Sweat pants and hoodies are allowed for opening night!