Understanding Long Term Injured Reserve in Hockey: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re a fan of hockey, you’ve probably heard of the term “Long Term Injured Reserve.” Long Term Injured Reserve is a provision in the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement that allows teams to temporarily remove players from their active roster in case of injury. While this provision is a critical part of managing a team’s roster and salary cap, it can be complicated to understand. In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Long Term Injured Reserve in Hockey.

From who is eligible to be placed on Long Term Injured Reserve, to how long a player can remain on it, and what happens to their salary, we’ll cover it all. We’ll also discuss whether teams can replace players on LTIR, and what the implications of doing so are.

If you’re a die-hard fan or just getting into hockey, understanding Long Term Injured Reserve is crucial. So, let’s dive in and explore this critical provision in detail. By the end of this article, you’ll have a complete understanding of what Long Term Injured Reserve is and how it impacts the game.

Keep reading to become an expert in the world of hockey and learn everything you need to know about Long Term Injured Reserve.

What is Long Term Injured Reserve in Hockey?

Long Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) is a mechanism in the National Hockey League (NHL) that allows teams to free up salary cap space for players who are unable to play due to injury or illness. When a player is placed on LTIR, their salary is excluded from the team’s salary cap calculation. This provides teams with flexibility to replace injured players and remain compliant with the salary cap.

In order to be eligible for LTIR, a player must be unable to participate in games and practices for a minimum of 24 days and 10 games as a result of their injury or illness. The injury or illness must also be deemed to be a long-term or indefinite absence by the team’s medical staff and approved by the NHL.

Once a player is placed on LTIR, the team can exceed the salary cap by the amount of the player’s salary, up to the maximum allowed under the LTIR provisions. However, any replacement player must have a cap hit equal to or less than the injured player’s cap hit in order to remain compliant with the salary cap.

It’s important to note that LTIR is not a permanent solution. Once the injured player is cleared to play, the team must become salary cap compliant again by either trading away or waiving a player, or by demoting a player to the minor leagues.

Definition of Long Term Injured Reserve

Term	Definition	Example
LTIR	Long Term Injured Reserve is a status that allows NHL teams to temporarily remove a player’s salary from the team’s salary cap if the player is expected to miss at least 10 games and 24 days due to injury.	A player suffers a severe knee injury and is expected to miss the rest of the season. The team places the player on LTIR and is able to sign a replacement player without exceeding the salary cap.
Salary Cap	The maximum amount of money a team can spend on player salaries during a given season, set by the NHL each year.	The salary cap for the 2022-2023 NHL season is $81.5 million.
Injury Reserve	A status that allows teams to temporarily remove a player from their roster due to injury and replace them with another player without exceeding the salary cap.	A player breaks their leg and will miss 6 weeks. The team places them on injury reserve and calls up a player from their AHL affiliate to fill their roster spot.
Cap Space	The difference between a team’s current payroll and the maximum amount allowed by the salary cap.	A team has $2 million in cap space and can use that money to sign a free agent or acquire a player via trade.

Overall, LTIR is a tool used by NHL teams to manage their salary cap situation when a player is expected to miss a significant amount of time due to injury. Understanding how LTIR works is essential for fans and team executives alike, as it can impact a team’s ability to acquire new players or make trades during the season.

How Does Long Term Injured Reserve Work in Hockey?

Players are placed on Long Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) when they are injured for an extended period of time. LTIR is used when a player is expected to miss a minimum of 10 games and 24 calendar days due to an injury. Once a player is placed on LTIR, they must remain on the list for a minimum of 10 games and 24 calendar days. This allows the team to temporarily replace the player with another player.

The salary of the injured player does not count against the team’s salary cap while they are on LTIR. This provides teams with some financial relief, which allows them to sign a replacement player. The amount of relief a team receives is based on the injured player’s salary, with a maximum relief of the team’s available cap space. However, teams cannot exceed the salary cap limit even with LTIR.

Once a player is deemed healthy and ready to return to play, the team must remove them from LTIR. The team must then make a corresponding roster move to make room for the returning player. This often involves sending a player down to the minors or placing another player on waivers.

Teams must be cautious with their use of LTIR, as there can be long-term consequences. If a team overuses LTIR or abuses it to create cap space, they may face penalties such as fines or loss of draft picks. Additionally, a player who is placed on LTIR for an extended period of time may face difficulties returning to their previous level of play or finding a spot on the team’s roster.

Who is Eligible for Long Term Injured Reserve in Hockey?

Players with significant injuries: Players who have sustained significant injuries that prevent them from playing for at least 10 games and 24 calendar days are eligible for Long Term Injured Reserve (LTIR). These injuries may include concussions, fractures, and other serious injuries that prevent players from competing.

Salary cap compliant: Teams can only place players on LTIR if it allows them to become salary cap compliant. If a player’s salary is above the team’s salary cap limit and the team cannot afford to keep the player on their active roster, they may be placed on LTIR.

Medical documentation: In order to be placed on LTIR, players must provide medical documentation from a team physician that shows they are unable to play for at least 10 games and 24 calendar days due to injury.

Eligible for LTIR relief: Players who are placed on LTIR are eligible for LTIR relief, which means their salary does not count against the team’s salary cap while they are on LTIR. This allows teams to temporarily replace injured players on their roster while remaining salary cap compliant.

What Type of Injuries Qualify for Long Term Injured Reserve in Hockey?

Season-Ending Injuries: Players who have sustained injuries that are expected to keep them out of play for the remainder of the season may be placed on LTIR. These injuries typically include serious leg or knee injuries, spinal cord injuries, or head trauma.

Long-Term Injuries: Players who have sustained injuries that will keep them out of the lineup for a minimum of 24 days and 10 games may be placed on LTIR. These injuries can include broken bones, severe muscle strains, or concussions.

Chronic Injuries: Players who have injuries that are chronic or recurring may also be placed on LTIR. These injuries can include conditions such as back pain, arthritis, or chronic migraines, which may require extended periods of rest and rehabilitation.

Pre-Existing Injuries: Players who have injuries that were sustained prior to the start of the season, but were not disclosed to the team, may still be eligible for LTIR. However, the player must provide medical evidence to support their claim that the injury has worsened and is preventing them from playing.

How Long Does a Player Need to be Injured to Qualify for Long Term Injured Reserve in Hockey?

A player needs to be unable to participate in at least 10 games or 24 days due to injury to be eligible for long term injured reserve. This minimum time frame is set by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association.

The 10-game or 24-day rule is important because it ensures that teams don’t abuse the long term injured reserve system to gain a competitive advantage. It prevents teams from placing healthy players on injured reserve to free up salary cap space.

It’s worth noting that there is no maximum amount of time a player can be on long term injured reserve. A player can remain on this list for the entire season if necessary.

However, a player must be medically cleared to play before returning to the ice. Once a player is medically cleared, the team has to make a roster move to accommodate the player’s return.

What Happens if a Player Recovers from their Injury while on Long Term Injured Reserve in Hockey?

If a player on long term injured reserve recovers from their injury before the end of the designated time period, they can return to play. However, the team must first ensure they are under the salary cap limit, as players on long term injured reserve do not count towards the cap.

If the team is still over the salary cap limit after the player’s return, they may need to make additional roster moves to remain cap compliant. This can include sending a player to the minors or making a trade to free up cap space.

In some cases, the team may choose to keep the player on long term injured reserve even after they have recovered, particularly if they have other healthy players at the same position. This can provide the team with some added salary cap flexibility and allow them to keep the player protected from waivers.

Overall, the decision to activate a player from long term injured reserve is a complex one that involves careful consideration of both the player’s health and the team’s financial situation.

How Long Can a Player Remain on Long Term Injured Reserve in Hockey?

Maximum Time: A player can remain on Long Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) for a maximum of the regular season.

Reevaluation: Teams can request a reevaluation of a player’s injury status after the player has been on LTIR for at least 24 days or 10 games.

Return to Play: Once a player is cleared to play by team doctors, they can return to the lineup. However, teams may have to make corresponding roster moves to remain under the salary cap.

Salary Cap Relief: Teams can receive salary cap relief for a player on LTIR, which allows them to exceed the salary cap by the injured player’s cap hit. The amount of relief depends on the player’s salary and the number of days they have been on LTIR.

Off-Season: Players on LTIR during the off-season do not count against the team’s salary cap. However, they must be cleared by team doctors before the start of the next season to be eligible to play.

Maximum Length of Time on Long Term Injured Reserve in Hockey

Long Term Injured Reserve is a mechanism used by NHL teams to provide salary cap relief when a player is unable to play due to a significant injury. However, a player cannot remain on Long Term Injured Reserve indefinitely. There are specific rules that dictate how long a player can remain on Long Term Injured Reserve.

According to the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, the maximum length of time a player can remain on Long Term Injured Reserve is 24 days and ten NHL games. After that period, the team must activate the player or place him on waivers for the purpose of sending him to the minor leagues.

If a player is not healthy enough to play after the 24 days and ten games have elapsed, the team can place him back on Long Term Injured Reserve. However, the player must remain on the roster for at least one day and play in at least one game before being placed back on Long Term Injured Reserve.

What Happens to a Player’s Salary on Long Term Injured Reserve in Hockey?

When a player is placed on long term injured reserve in hockey, their salary continues to count against the team’s salary cap, but it is removed from the team’s actual payroll. This means that the team is allowed to exceed the salary cap by the amount of the player’s salary on LTIR.

Players on LTIR also continue to receive their salary, and they are not allowed to play in any games until they are healthy enough to return to the ice.

However, there are some limitations to this. The team is not allowed to use the player’s salary cap relief to acquire new players or sign free agents. Additionally, if a player is expected to miss only a short amount of time, they may not be placed on LTIR, and their salary would continue to count against the team’s cap.

Impact of Long Term Injured Reserve on a Player’s Salary in Hockey

When a player is placed on Long Term Injured Reserve in the NHL, their salary continues to count against the team’s salary cap but they do not receive their full salary. Instead, the player is paid a percentage of their salary based on the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA).

The percentage that a player on Long Term Injured Reserve is paid varies depending on the length of time they have been on the list and the amount of their salary. For the 2021-2022 season, players on Long Term Injured Reserve are paid 80% of their salary if they have been on the list for less than 60 days, and 50% of their salary if they have been on the list for more than 60 days.

It’s worth noting that a player on Long Term Injured Reserve may still be eligible for bonuses, such as performance bonuses or signing bonuses. However, these bonuses also count against the team’s salary cap.

Can Teams Replace Players on Long Term Injured Reserve in Hockey?

Introduction: When a player is placed on Long Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) in hockey, it can impact their team’s ability to field a full roster. Teams need to know if they can replace injured players on LTIR to maintain their competitiveness.

Definition of LTIR: LTIR is a mechanism that allows a team to exceed the salary cap due to a player’s injury or illness. Teams can replace players on LTIR, but it depends on the circumstances.

Replacement Options: Teams can replace players on LTIR with a player making a lower salary. The new player’s cap hit must not exceed the injured player’s cap hit. The replacement player can be a prospect or a player already on the team.

Timing of Replacements: Teams can replace players on LTIR at any time during the season. However, there are deadlines for roster changes, so teams must be aware of those deadlines to make the appropriate moves.

Impact on the Salary Cap: When a player is placed on LTIR, their salary no longer counts against the team’s salary cap. However, the replacement player’s salary does count against the cap, so teams must be careful when making roster changes.

Conclusion: In summary, teams can replace players on LTIR in hockey, but there are restrictions and deadlines to consider. Replacement players must have a lower salary than the injured player, and their cap hit cannot exceed the injured player’s cap hit. Teams must also be mindful of the impact on their salary cap when making roster changes.

Rules for Replacing Players on Long Term Injured Reserve in Hockey

Salary Cap Space: Teams can only replace players on long term injured reserve if they have enough salary cap space to do so. The salary of the player being replaced cannot exceed that of the injured player.

Timing: Teams can only replace players on long term injured reserve after the player has been on the list for at least 24 days and 10 games have been played.

Same Position: Teams can only replace players on long term injured reserve with a player who plays the same position as the injured player.

Length of Replacement: The replacement player must be signed to a minimum of 7 days, and the length of the replacement player’s contract cannot exceed the length of the injured player’s contract.

How Does Replacing Players on Long Term Injured Reserve Affect a Team’s Salary Cap in Hockey?

When a team places a player on long term injured reserve (LTIR), the player’s salary no longer counts against the team’s salary cap. However, if the team replaces the injured player with another player, the replacement player’s salary will count against the team’s salary cap.

The replacement player must have a salary that is equal to or less than the injured player’s salary. If the replacement player’s salary is less than the injured player’s salary, the team will receive cap relief in the amount of the difference.

If the team does not replace the injured player and they have already used up all of their salary cap space, they will not be able to add any players until the injured player is healthy enough to return to the lineup.

It’s important for teams to carefully consider their options when deciding whether or not to replace a player on LTIR, as it can have a significant impact on their salary cap situation.

Examples of Teams Replacing Players on Long Term Injured Reserve in Hockey

Teams in the NHL often need to replace players who are on long term injured reserve (LTIR). Here are some recent examples:

1. The Tampa Bay Lightning replaced Steven Stamkos on LTIR during the 2019-2020 season. They used the cap space to acquire Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow, who were key contributors to their Stanley Cup championship run.

2. The Vegas Golden Knights replaced Alex Tuch on LTIR during the 2020-2021 season. They used the cap space to acquire Mattias Janmark, who helped them reach the Stanley Cup Semifinals.

3. The Toronto Maple Leafs replaced Wayne Simmonds on LTIR during the 2020-2021 season. They used the cap space to acquire Nick Foligno, who added depth to their lineup during their playoff run.

These examples show how teams can strategically use LTIR to create cap space and improve their chances of success.

Frequently Asked Questions