That's not true. Horton can be placed on LTIR before the start of the season

I've heard Dreger say this before. You can put them on LTIR in the summer and the whole 10% over the cap, but you have to be compliant on day one and then put them back on LTIR

let me ask you this... would you trifle for a shmeckle of whiz pistachio mctaggart slim jim mcmillan and wife snuffa mcruppa who?

https://www.capfriendly.com/ltir-faq#training-camp-example

Can LTIR be used in the off-season?
Yes, LTIR can be used in the off-season while the 10% off-season cushion is active. LTIR in the off-season is calculated using the basic equation outlined above, which permits a team to exceed the off-season salary cap. To use off-season LTIR the team must provide doctors proof that the player in question will continue to be injured at the beginning of the regular season for 10 NHL games and 24 calendar days.

bruh you are literally on capfriendly which has all this outlined in the faq section

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luR7MvsLWbE&t=604s

Explain this then? CapFriendly talks about the offseason and during the season, but not opening night?

correct me if I am wrong but I believe opening night is during the season...

original poster is correct. LTIR is way more complicated than just, "throw them on LTIR and the problem goes away." Also, we don't know all the details of LTIR, the vast majority of it isn't available to the public. I've heard enough general managers and reporters reference it that I'm very confident that it is accurate that while you can use LTIR during the off season, and during the season, there's this odd window where you have to be cap compliant. Think of it this way, LTIR contracts ARE on the cap. LTIR allows you to replace that money. So it does make sense that for day 1, Horton is going to count. It might not even be day 1, it might be hour 1, or minute 1, but the original poster is correct to some extent.

Thank you - I don't find the FAQ and other parts I have read of the CBA very clear. But if NHL Analysts and GMs are talking about it, then there is something there. Just because you can create an ARMCHAIR-GM post and be compliant doesn't mean it works

Folks are really getting confused with the term "cap compliant". It certainly doesn't mean a team has to be at 81.5m and that includes all it's LTIR players.
You think if Doughty and Kopitar have season ending injuries on September 10, the Kings are going to have to go into the season with 60.5m active roster? Of course they are going to be able to sign addition players probably UFAs in September to get close to cap max.

LTIR doesn't mean just throw a player there and all the 5.25M is off the cap. LTIR lets you exceed the cap by the amount of the contract plus your current cap situation. If you are not within 5.25M of the cap ceiling when Horton is on LTIR, how can you exceed the cap?