Since the 2010 Stanley Cup win, there has been a revolving door of hockey players in and out of the Chicago Blackhawks’ lineup. The reason is, unlike any of the other major sport, the NHL has a “hard” salary cap. This means that each team is only allowed to spend a certain amount of money per year on player contracts.
The Blackhawks use roughly 75 percent of their allotted money on their best players and are forced to find a combination of young players and veterans each year to fill out the roster. But because the Blackhawks have dedicated so much money to their stars, it’s hard to hold on to skilled young players and fan favorites.