The Colorado Avalanche, like every other club, could face a tough trade deadline under the new NHL CBA rules.
The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is set to expire roughly a year from now. That situation means that the new rules included in the incoming CBA will take effect in September 2026. However, the NHL and NHLPA agreed to implement some specific rules a year ahead of schedule.
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.
This move has been dubbed the “LTIR loophole,” and it’s one that has effectively disappeared. Teams, like the Avalanche, will no longer be able to pull off moves like this past season.
And that situation could have serious effects on the overall trade deadline strategy. On the surface, the Avalanche should have no problem. They are a smidge under the cap ceiling and don’t have any major additions to consider.
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.
Landeskog could play a key role in Colorado Avalanche trade deadline strategy
Last season, Landeskog spent the entire season on LTIR. That situation allowed the Avalanche to spend above the cap limit throughout the year.
This season, Landeskog is not expected to land on LTIR. He’ll likely spend the whole season on the active roster, even if he doesn’t play every game.
That situation means that the only player eligible for LTIR would be Logan O’Connor. Now, what would happen if, unfortunately, Landeskog’s knee injury forces him out long-term? Would that mean the Avalanche move Landeskog to LTIR?
Yes, that could be a possibility. However, the Avalanche would not be able to activate him in the playoffs unless the lineup was cap-compliant.
That potential scenario could complicate things significantly for Colorado. Having Landeskog land on LTIR, while it would allow the club to acquire additional pieces at the trade deadline, could throw a monkey wrench into the works.
The best-case scenario is that Landeskog does not need to hit the shelf. But if he does, the Avalanche will need to have a contingency plan in place. Otherwise, the Avalanche captain will have to sit on the sidelines in the postseason even if he could return to the lineup.