The Chicago Blackhawks' cap situation just got a little clearer.

If Marian Hossa is eventually deemed eligible to be placed on long-term injured reserve, it won't be this summer.

"Chicago is not attempting to utilize LTI(R) during the offseason for Hossa and, as a result, the determination of whether it will be available next season is not a time-sensitive matter," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic Chicago's Scott Powers in an email Tuesday.

Hossa has already been ruled out for the entire 2017-18 campaign due to a skin disorder, but the league hasn't yet decided whether the veteran forward can be placed on LTIR - thereby freeing up his $5.275-million cap hit.

Daly said in June that a decision was expected by July 1, but that deadline may have shifted when the club elected not to seek the move until the fall.

The Blackhawks have minus-$34,795 in projected cap space at the moment, according to CapFriendly.