NHL teams will face a significant change in the 2026 playoffs as the salary cap now applies to postseason rosters. The league has introduced a playoff cap calculator through the SAP-NHL Front Office App, allowing general managers to ensure their lineups comply with the new rules in real time.

The rule change, part of the collective bargaining agreement reached last summer, closes the long-criticized LTIR loophole that teams exploited to exceed the cap during playoff runs. Under the new system, teams don't need their entire roster under the cap, but the annual salaries of skaters and goaltenders dressed for each game cannot exceed $95.5 million. Commissioner Gary Bettman emphasized the importance of this tool, noting that it enables teams to comply with the cap requirements during games.

The calculator, which has been available since early February, allows teams to mix and match lineups to ensure compliance. For example, the Edmonton Oilers will need to manage star forward Leon Draisaitl's $14 million cap hit when he returns from injury. The app, initially introduced for iPads and later made available on iPhones, has seen increased usage across all 32 teams as they prepare for the postseason.