NHL and NHLPA Ratify New CBA: A Deep Dive into What’s Changing

The National Hockey League and the NHL Players` Association have successfully ratified a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). This new pact is set to commence on September 16, 2026, and will govern the league`s operations and player relations through September 15, 2030. With the current CBA running until the close of the 2025-26 season, this early agreement ensures five consecutive years of labor stability, a welcome development for a league that has faced multiple interruptions in recent decades.

This marks the first major CBA negotiation spearheaded by NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh, who took the helm in 2023. While the continuation of labor peace is the overarching headline, the new agreement introduces several significant modifications impacting various facets of the game, from scheduling and contracts to player welfare and trade mechanics.

Reshaping the Calendar: More Regular Season, Less Preseason

One of the most immediate changes fans will notice is the expansion of the regular season schedule from 82 to 84 games. To accommodate this, the exhibition season will be significantly trimmed, limited to a maximum of four games per team. This adjustment serves a functional purpose: it allows teams to balance their divisional schedules and effectively trade less commercially appealing preseason games for two additional regular-season matchups, complete with standard pricing and crowd sizes.

The shift also means a slightly earlier start to the regular season, potentially kicking off in the final week of September. While the prospect of two extra games raises understandable concerns about player wear and tear over a grueling season, the reduction in training camp duration and the overall exhibition schedule proved appealing enough for players to endorse the change.

Contract Evolution: Shorter Terms and Financial Clarity

The new CBA introduces notable alterations to player contracts. The maximum allowable contract length will be reduced. Under the new terms, a player re-signing with their current club can ink a deal for a maximum of seven years, down from the previous eight. For players signing with a new team in free agency, the maximum term drops from seven years to six.

Furthermore, the practice of utilizing deferred salaries to structure deals is being eliminated. Players will now receive their full compensation within the term of their contract. This aims to simplify financial structures for clubs and provide players with greater certainty regarding their earnings timing, doing away with tactics previously used to manage salary cap hits over the life of a long-term agreement.

On the lower end of the pay scale, the league minimum salary is set to increase gradually, reaching $1 million by the end of the four-year agreement. This represents a substantial rise, particularly within the constraints of the NHL`s salary cap framework compared to some other major professional sports leagues.

Addressing Cap Gymnastics: New LTIR and Playoff Rules

Perhaps the most anticipated changes target the strategic use of Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR), a practice that has occasionally allowed teams to exceed the salary cap during the regular season and then see key players return healthy for the playoffs. This loophole, utilized by Stanley Cup contenders over the years, generated considerable debate and player frustration.

The new CBA implements stricter guidelines for using LTIR. When a player is placed on LTIR, the total salary and bonuses of replacement players added cannot exceed the amount of the injured player they are replacing. Crucially, the average annual value (AAV) of these replacement players cannot exceed the prior season`s league average salary. An exception exists if the injured player is expected to miss the *entire* season, allowing teams to exceed these limits, but at the cost of that player being ineligible to return for the season or playoffs.

Adding another layer of regulation, the CBA introduces “playoff cap counting” for the first time. For each playoff game, teams must submit a roster of 18 skaters and two goaltenders whose combined “averaged club salary” (essentially their AAV) must fall *under* the team`s upper salary cap limit. While a team`s overall roster salary might exceed the cap once the regular season ends, the group of players actually participating in any given playoff game must now be cap-compliant. This provision is set for the first two seasons (2026-28) and is subject to review.

Player Welfare and Appearance: Neck Guards and Dress Code

In a significant move related to player safety, the new agreement mandates cut-resistant neck protection for all players entering the league with zero prior NHL experience, effective starting the 2026-27 season. This protection must meet a minimum standard (A5). Players with NHL experience prior to 2026-27 are not required to wear them. This rule directly addresses concerns heightened by recent tragic incidents in hockey globally.

On a lighter note, the formal player dress code, which previously mandated jackets, ties, and dress pants for travel and games unless specified otherwise, has been entirely removed. Instead, players are simply required to “dress in a manner that is consistent with contemporary fashion norms.” So, while you might not see team-wide toga parties on game days, expect a bit more individual expression in pre-game attire going forward. The days of potentially getting fined for wearing… well, anything but a suit seem to be over.

Trade Dynamics and Emergency Personnel

The new CBA also subtly impacts complex trade scenarios. While retaining salary remains an option, a mandatory waiting period of 75 regular-season days is now imposed before a player`s salary can be retained in a *second* transaction. This makes intricate three-team retention deals more challenging to execute back-to-back.

Formalizing a role that has seen moments of unexpected glory (and viral fame), the Emergency Backup Goaltender (EBUG) position will be standardized. Instead of a local individual hoping for a chance, teams will designate a full-time EBUG who can travel and practice with the club, subject to specific eligibility criteria ensuring they haven`t recently played professionally or have existing contractual obligations.

Looking Ahead: Olympics and the Commissioner`s Future

The agreement includes a commitment from both the NHL and NHLPA to participate in the 2030 Winter Olympics, planned for the French Alps. As is customary, this commitment is contingent upon reaching acceptable terms with relevant international bodies like the IIHF and IOC. Past experiences show that such commitments, while positive, don`t always guarantee NHL player presence on Olympic ice.

Finally, with the new CBA extending through 2030, there is speculation that this could potentially be the final labor agreement negotiated under the tenure of long-serving NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who became the league`s first commissioner in 1993. While no official announcement has been made regarding his future, his long and impactful leadership spans this new agreement`s duration.

In summary, the new NHL-NHLPA CBA represents a comprehensive update, addressing key areas identified by both the league and players. It aims to ensure stability, increase financial clarity, enhance safety, refine competitive rules, and modernize aspects of player life, setting the stage for the league`s landscape through the end of the decade.