As the National Hockey League (NHL) prepares for the 2026-27 regular season, a pressing concern has emerged: the salary cap crisis. With numerous teams hovering perilously close to or already exceeding the salary cap ceiling, the off-season has become a delicate balancing act. Several teams are facing a daunting challenge: finding a way to become cap-compliant without sacrificing their competitive edge. Will the likes of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have been notorious for their cap woes, manage to navigate the complexities of the cap system and avoid the dreaded penalty box of cap non-compliance? Or will other teams, such as the Vancouver Canucks or the Edmonton Oilers, be forced to make tough decisions to get back under the cap? The 2026-27 season is just around the corner, and the clock is ticking for these teams to get their finances in order.

The NHL's off-season has left many teams either perilously close to the salary cap ceiling or over it. What teams are in cap trouble? And what do those teams need to do to be cap-compliant by the time the 2026-27 regular season begins?