Since 2005, virtually everything that unfolds in the NHL has been centered around the salary cap. There was a time when player contracts were shrouded in rumors and ambiguity, with fans speculating about the budgets owners would grant general managers to operate with. It was almost a given that the Leafs or Rangers would be contenders for nearly every intriguing player on the market. However, we have become accustomed to a reality where even the most ordinary free agent transaction must be meticulously examined due to its potential implications for a team's flexibility and competitiveness. The unchanging cap landscape that has persisted since the onset of the pandemic has further exacerbated these dynamics. Players aiming for long-term agreements anticipate a future increase in the cap, ad