The NHL finds itself at the center of a growing storm as fans and analysts alike raise serious concerns about the league’s handling of the Long Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) rules. With accusations of teams exploiting loopholes to gain a competitive edge, the integrity of the Stanley Cup Playoffs has come under intense scrutiny.

High-profile cases involving recent champions have only fueled the outrage, as frustrated fans take to social media to demand accountability from Commissioner Gary Bettman and league officials. Meanwhile, the ongoing debate over the advantages enjoyed by teams from no-tax states adds another layer of controversy to an already heated discussion. With the current Collective Bargaining Agreement set to expire in 2026, pressure is mounting for the NHL to confront these issues head-on and restore faith in the fairness of the game. As the league faces increasing criticism, all eyes are on how it will respond to calls for reform and ensure a level playing field for all teams.

Gary Bettman, Commissioner of the NHL.

Photo credit: NoVa Caps

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.