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Fans Expose the NHL and the Florida Panthers for Exploiting CBA Loophole to Win the Stanley Cup

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jun 13, 2025 10:28 AM ET

The NHL has long had an issue with teams exploiting LTIR rules, and now fans have continued to call out the league for allowing teams to do so.

For years now, teams like the Vegas Golden Knights and Tampa Bay Lightning have exploited the NHL's rules around Long Term Injured Reserve, with teams continuing to exploit the rules to put themselves in a position to win in the Stanley Cup.

In recent times however, much of the criticism around the NHL has been their stance on the advantage that no-tax states have over others, as Florida have sent a team to the Stanley Cup Finals in six straight seasons.

That's meant that some have forgotten about the LTIR circumvention, but not all, as fans in recent times have called out Bettman and the league on social media for not doing anything about this, despite the obvious issues surrounding the loophole.

According to reporter Drew Livingstone, three of the past five Stanley Cup winners (if Florida win in 2025) will have had a player on LTIR earning $9.5 million or more up until Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, showing why this clearly needs to be addressed at some point.

The NHL's current CBA expires in September of 2026, meaning a new one will need to be negotiated before the 2026/27 season begins, and given how much criticism and talk there has been around this issue, it's safe to say that it will come up in discussions.

Given how Gary Bettman has dismissed the advantage that no-tax states have, it's not quite certain the extent to which the league will address the LTIR situation, but the effect has been clear, and with fans continuing to harp on it, it's safe to say that something needs to change.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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