Salary Cap Crunch Could Force Big NHL Roster Shakeups

The New York Times is pointing at seven NHL teams that may have to lose key players because the cap math is about to get ugly. That is the part of the league nobody likes discussing until it shows up with a folder of hard decisions and no easy exits. Teams can sell hope all summer, but eventually the bill comes due in the form of trades, walks, and awkward “we love the player” quotes. The pressure here is not theoretical, and the clubs that ignore it usually end up learning the hard way.