The NHL and NHLPA have reached a new CBA agreement in record time
The NHL and the NHL Players’ Association have reached an agreement on the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that is all set to debut at the start of the 2026-27 NHL season. The new CBA will continue for a period of four years until the 2029-30 season.
In a rare occurrence, both parties were able to come to an agreement well in advance. Normally, the new CBA agreements go down to the wire, and in some cases, the league is also forced to lock down due to unresolved issues.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman expressed his pleasure over the CBA being finalized in record time, as it shows the strong unity between the Players’ Association and the League.
“The partnership between the Players’ Association and the League is stronger than it ever has been and working together under this agreement presents a fantastic opportunity to continue to grow the game. We are grateful to the Board of Governors for its support of this agreement that strengthens our game and ensures we are collectively delivering a great fan experience in the years to come.”
Similarly, NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh was also delighted with the outcome as he expressed the benefits of working together for the betterment of the game. He also expressed his gratitude towards the players, the executive board, and the negotiating committee.
“This CBA shows what can be accomplished when the NHL and the Union work together — an agreement that will allow for the continued worldwide growth of the game. That is a win for everyone. We could not have achieved this outcome without the involvement and support of our players. Special thanks to our Executive Board and Negotiating Committee.”
With the new CBA ready to come into existence from September 2026, here are the key changes the NHL will undergo for the next four years.
The most important change that will take place under the new CBA is a return to 84 regular-season games. That means each team will now play 2 more regular-season games. The league had been employing 82 games since the 1995-96 season.
The increase in the regular season games means that it will be compensated by reducing the 6 preseason games to just 4 for each team. This is a win-win situation for players as well as fans.
Many players are willing to play the extra two games in the regular season instead of risking the chance of an injury in the preseason. As for fans, this change will just bring about more excitement.
Putting more effort into the safety of players is always a good idea, especially in heavy contact sports such as ice hockey. New NHL players from 2026 will have to wear neck guards in a bid to increase player safety.
In the recently concluded season, only 55 players made use of the neck guards, which is quite a low number considering the number of injuries that take place, especially the ones that involve player skates. Ironically, though, players who have entered the league before the 2026-27 season will still have the option of whether or not to wear the guards.
The NHL will, for the first time in its history, employ a full-time travelling goaltender, which means the EBUG (Emergency Backup Goaltender) will no longer be an option. The EBUG was a means for teams to allow amateur goalies to suit up and take part in an NHL game in case both the starting goaltender and the backup happened to be injured or ill at the same time.
As per the new CBA, players’ contract lengths will now be reduced by one year, from the current maximum of eight years to seven years. For free agents, the maximum contract duration will be cut down to six years.
The long-term injured reserve (LTIR) has been a nightmare for fans and teams, as a loophole in the system allowed franchises to place a player on LTIR for the regular season.
Once a player was placed on LTIR, teams heading to the playoffs could use the available cap space to trade for players before the deadline, as well as activate their player who was placed on the LTIR.
The NHL and the NHLPA working together is a great sign for the future and the global expansion of the league. With record breaking revenues, the NHL salary cap is also set to increase to $113.5 million by the start of the 2027–28 season.
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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