The NHL and the NHL Players’ Association are on the cusp of reaching an agreement to extend their collective bargaining agreement (CBA) by an additional four years. This significant move comes more than a year prior to the current deal’s expiration in September 2026 and includes plans to expand the regular season from 82 to 84 games.
Intense discussions between the league and the union began in April, targeting the resolution of several critical issues well ahead of the existing agreement’s termination. Should the extension be finalized shortly, it is expected to be announced at the upcoming draft in Los Angeles. This agreement represents a stride towards long-term stability for a sport historically marred by labor disturbances, such as the complete cancellation of the 2004-05 season due to a lockout.
Three individuals with insight into the ongoing discussions confirmed that the agreement is in its final stages. However, they requested anonymity as the deal remains unofficial. Initial reports emerged from Daily Faceoff detailing the progress.
According to two sources, the prospective CBA will not only increase the regular season to 84 games but will also propose restricting the maximum length of player contracts. In another noteworthy change, a salary cap will be applied for the playoffs for the first time, designed to address the manipulation of long-term injured reserve (LTIR) rules. This alteration is intended to discourage teams from augmenting their rosters with additional talent by surpassing the cap leveraging LTIR, a strategy previously employed by teams like Chicago, Tampa Bay, and the Vegas Golden Knights during their championship pursuits.
Currently, players can renew their contracts with their teams for up to eight years, whereas contracts with new teams can last up to seven years. Under the new CBA parameters, these durations will be shortened to seven years for re-signing and six years for new team contracts.
Both NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh expressed positive outlooks on the pace and effectiveness of the negotiations during the Stanley Cup Final in June. Bettman highlighted the promising nature of the discussions, while Walsh indicated they were advancing well.
If successfully finalized, this CBA would represent the league’s first comprehensive agreement since 2013. It would synthesize the amendments made in 2020, designed to finalize the pandemic-interrupted season, with elements of the CBA framework established over 12 years ago.