The National Hockey League`s Board of Governors and the NHL Players` Association membership have officially approved a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). This agreement will take effect after the current CBA concludes at the end of the 2025-26 season, extending labor peace through the conclusion of the 2029-30 season.
While maintaining labor harmony is arguably the most significant aspect for a league that has experienced several disruptions this millennium, several interesting changes in the agreement are worth noting for fans.
Here is a breakdown of these changes, compiled from reporting by ESPN.
When Does the New CBA Start?
The new NHL CBA officially starts on September 16, 2026, and will remain in effect until September 15, 2030. Counting the upcoming season, this ensures five consecutive years of labor peace, marking the quickest extension agreement reached during Gary Bettman`s time as NHL Commissioner.
This negotiation is also the first significant one led by NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh, who assumed the position in 2023.
Key Changes in the New CBA
Several major differences are highlighted in the new agreement. These include adjustments to the league schedule, moving to an 84-game regular season combined with a shorter preseason (capped at four games). This modification allows teams to maintain play against every opponent while facing divisional rivals four times every other season.
Contract durations will also be revised. The maximum term for a contract will be reduced to seven years, down from the current eight. Under the existing CBA, a player can sign an eight-year extension with their current club or a seven-year deal in free agency; the new terms will limit these to seven and six years, respectively.
Deferred salaries will be eliminated. Additionally, a formal position will be created for a team`s full-time Emergency Backup Goaltender (EBUG), who will be permitted to practice and travel with the team.
The CBA also includes revised rules regarding Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) usage, especially concerning the ability to activate players from LTIR for postseason play.
Motivation Behind the 84-Game Season
The new CBA increases the regular season to 84 games while reducing the exhibition season to a maximum of four games per team. Players with 100 or more career NHL games can only participate in a maximum of two exhibition contests. For players who played at least 50 games the previous season, training camp will be limited to 13 days.
The NHL previously had an 84-game season from 1992 to 1994, which included two neutral-site games for each team. However, every full NHL regular season since 1995-96 has consisted of 82 games.
For at least the past four years, the league has considered adding two games to the schedule and shortening the preseason. Since the current CBA limited teams to 82 games, this expansion required collective bargaining.
The primary reason for the increase was functional: Currently, teams play divisional opponents either three or four times (26 games total), non-divisional conference opponents three times (24 games), and opponents from the other conference twice (32 games). Adding two games allows for a more balanced divisional schedule and replaces two lower-revenue exhibition games with higher-revenue regular-season contests.
A shorter preseason also gives the NHL the option to start the regular season earlier, possibly in late September. Naturally, concerns exist among players about the increased physical toll of two extra games on top of the already demanding schedule and playoffs. However, players found the reduction of training camp and the exhibition season appealing, leading to their approval of the 84-game season in the new CBA.
Understanding the New Long-Term Injured Reserve Rules
Teams utilizing Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) to gain late-season salary cap flexibility, only for the injured player to return for the playoffs, is a strategy seen since 2015. This practice gained prominence when the Chicago Blackhawks used Patrick Kane`s LTIR space to acquire players at the trade deadline before he returned for the playoffs, eventually winning the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Since then, other teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning (Nikita Kucherov, 2020-21), Vegas Golden Knights (Mark Stone, 2023), and Florida Panthers (Matthew Tkachuk, 2024) have also successfully used LTIR to their advantage during Stanley Cup runs.
The NHL has reviewed each instance of teams using LTIR with players returning for the playoffs and found no rules were technically broken, though the league is currently investigating the Edmonton Oilers` use of LTIR for Evander Kane in the most recent postseason.
Last year, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly indicated that if a majority of general managers desired a change to this practice, the NHL would consider it. Some players had also expressed dissatisfaction with this salary cap loophole.
Ron Hainsey, NHLPA Assistant Executive Director, mentioned during the Stanley Cup Final that players have privately or publicly voiced concerns about the potential misuse of LTIR. He noted that closing this loophole was a “priority” for the NHL in labor negotiations.
Under the new CBA, the combined salary and bonuses of players acquired to replace a player on LTIR cannot surpass the total salary and bonuses of the injured player they are substituting. For example, in 2024, the Golden Knights placed Mark Stone and his $9.5 million salary on LTIR due to injury. They then added approximately $10.8 million in salary cap hit by acquiring Noah Hanifin, Tomas Hertl, and Anthony Mantha before the trade deadline.
A significant adjustment to the LTIR rule is that the average annual value (AAV) of the replacement player(s) cannot exceed the average league salary from the prior season. According to PuckPedia, the average player salary last season was around $3,817,293.
The CBA does provide an exception to these LTIR restrictions, subject to approval from both the NHL and NHLPA, based on the expected duration of the injured player`s absence. Teams can exceed these AAV limits, but the injured player would then be ineligible to return for the remainder of that season, including the playoffs.
To further discourage teams from exploiting LTIR to exceed the salary cap during the Stanley Cup playoffs, the NHL and NHLPA have introduced “playoff cap counting” for the first time.
How Does `Playoff Cap Counting` Affect the Postseason?
In 2021, following the Carolina Hurricanes` playoff loss to Tampa Bay, defenseman Dougie Hamilton famously commented that his team fell to a Lightning squad “that`s $18 million over the cap or whatever they are,” referencing Tampa Bay`s use of Nikita Kucherov`s LTIR space before his playoff return.
Even more memorably, Kucherov wore a T-shirt with “$18M OVER THE CAP” during the team`s Stanley Cup celebration.
To address this creative accounting practice, in conjunction with the new regular-season LTIR rules, the NHL and NHLPA have implemented a new “playoff cap counting” provision in the CBA.
By a specified deadline before each playoff game (3 p.m. local time or five hours prior, whichever is earlier), teams must submit a roster of 18 skaters and two goaltenders to NHL Central Registry. A “playoff playing roster averaged club salary” will be calculated based on the AAV of each player on that submitted roster. This calculated amount must remain below the team`s “upper limit” of the salary cap.
The “averaged club salary” is the sum of the AAV of player salary and bonuses for that season for every player on the roster, plus any amounts charged to the team`s salary cap.
Teams can make changes to their submitted rosters after the deadline, provided these changes are cleared with NHL Central Registry.
The “upper limit” for a specific team is defined as the league-wide salary cap ceiling minus any cap implications from contract buyouts, 35-plus or one-way contract players sent to the minors, retained salary in trades, cap recapture penalties, or contract grievance settlements.
Crucially, this cap compliance only applies to the players listed on the roster for a particular playoff game. As one NHL player agent explained, “You can have $130 million in salaries on your total roster once the playoffs start, but the 18 players and two goalies that are on the ice must be cap-compliant.”
These specific playoff cap rules will be in effect for the first two seasons of the new CBA (2026-28). After this period, either the NHL or the NHLPA has the option to reopen this section of the CBA for good-faith discussions regarding the concerns that prompted these rules and whether modifications could be made to address them effectively.
If no resolution is reached regarding these concerns, the “playoff cap counting” rules will continue to apply for the 2028-29 season.
Are Neck Guards Now Mandatory Under the New NHL CBA?
Following the tragic death of Adam Johnson in October 2023, professional leagues globally have reevaluated their player equipment safety standards. Johnson, 29, playing in England`s Elite Ice Hockey League, suffered a fatal neck laceration from a skate blade during a game.
In response, the AHL mandated cut-resistant neck protection for both players and officials starting with the 2024-25 season. The IIHF implemented similar requirements for international tournaments, and USA Hockey made them mandatory for all players under the age of 18.
Now, the NHL and NHLPA have incorporated updated standards for neck protection into the new CBA.
Beginning with the 2026-27 season, players entering the league with zero prior NHL experience will be required to wear “cut-resistant protection on the neck area with a minimum cut level protection score of A5.” The ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 Standard rates neck guards on a scale from A1 (lowest) to A9 (highest), and players are encouraged to choose protection exceeding the minimum A5 requirement.
Importantly, players who have NHL experience prior to the start of the 2026-27 season will not be mandated to wear neck protection under these rules.
What Are the New Player Dress Code Rules?
The NHL and NHLPA have agreed that teams are no longer allowed “to propose any rules concerning player dress code.”
Under the previous CBA, the NHL was unique among major North American men`s professional sports leagues in having a dress code explicitly defined through collective bargaining. Exhibit 14, Rule 5 stated: “Players are required to wear jackets, ties and dress pants to all Club games and while traveling to and from such games unless otherwise specified by the Head Coach or General Manager.”
This rule has been deleted from the new CBA.
The only remaining requirement for players is that they must “dress in a manner that is consistent with contemporary fashion norms.”
So, no toga parties on game days, unfortunately.
Does the New CBA Address the Olympics Beyond 2026?
Yes. The NHL and NHLPA have included a commitment to participate in the 2030 Winter Olympics, which are planned to be held in the French Alps. As is typical with such agreements, this commitment is contingent on “negotiation of terms acceptable to each of the NHL, NHLPA, IIHF and/or IOC.”
It`s worth remembering, as seen with the 2022 Beijing Games, that having a commitment in the CBA does not automatically guarantee the participation of NHL players on the Olympic ice.
Did the NHL End Three-Team Salary Retention Trades?
Three-team salary retention has become a common strategy around the NHL trade deadline. It involves one team retaining a portion of a player`s salary to help another team fit him under their cap, and a third team is brought in to retain an additional portion to make the transaction feasible.
An example is the Tampa Bay Lightning`s acquisition of Yanni Gourde from the Seattle Kraken last season. Gourde had a cap hit of $5,166,667. Seattle traded him to Detroit, retaining $2,583,334 of his salary. Detroit then retained an additional $1,291,667 of Gourde`s salary before sending him to Tampa Bay for a fourth-round pick, enabling the Lightning to fit him within their cap space.
While the NHL will still permit retained salary transactions, the new CBA introduces a mandatory waiting period before a player`s salary can be retained in a second transaction. A second salary retention cannot occur within 75 regular-season days of the first retention transaction.
Days outside the regular-season schedule do not count towards the required 75 days, meaning the restriction could span multiple seasons, according to the CBA`s terms.
Can Players Now Endorse Alcoholic Beverages?
Yes, they can. The previous CBA prohibited players from any endorsements or sponsorships related to alcoholic beverages. This restriction has been removed in the new agreement. If only Bob Beers were still an active player…
Players remain prohibited from endorsing or sponsoring tobacco products, a rule carried over from the previous CBA. Additionally, they are now banned from endorsements or sponsorships involving “cannabis (including CBD) products.”
What Are the New Rules for Emergency Goaltender Replacement?
The NHL is formalizing the position of the emergency backup goaltender (EBUG).
Historically, this third goalie spot was filled by someone present at the arena during a game, prepared to step in for either team if both of their regular goaltenders became unable to play due to injury or illness. Essentially, it was an individual, often in street clothes, keeping alive the dream of playing in an NHL crease.
Under the new agreement, the league has granted the EBUG role official, permanent status. This designated player will practice with and travel with only one specific club. However, there are specific eligibility requirements for this position.
The CBA stipulates that an individual serving as a team`s emergency goaltender replacement cannot have previously played an NHL game under an NHL contract, appeared in more than 80 professional hockey games, been actively involved in professional hockey within the preceding three seasons, have a contractual obligation preventing them from fulfilling the EBUG role, or be on the reserve or restricted free agent list of an NHL club.
Teams are required to submit one designated EBUG 48 hours before the start of the NHL regular season. During the season, teams can declare this player 24 hours before a specific game.
What`s Different About Eliminating Deferred Salaries?
The new CBA will prevent teams from structuring deferred salary arrangements. This means players will receive their full compensation during the actual term of their contract. The intention is to protect players from financial uncertainty and simplify contract structures with clubs.
Previously, players sometimes structured deals with large signing bonuses paid upfront or significant payouts scheduled for the end of the contract term. Both tactics could potentially lower a player`s average annual cap hit over the life of the deal. Under the new agreement, these methods will no longer be options for teams or players during negotiations.
What Does the New Minimum Salary Look Like? How Does it Compare to Other Major Leagues?
Under the terms of the new CBA, the minimum salary for an NHL player will gradually increase from $775,000 to $1 million by the conclusion of the four-year agreement. While phased in, this represents a significant rise, particularly for a league where the salary cap structure presents unique challenges compared to other major sports.
For context, the NHL`s salary cap is projected to rise to $95.5 million in 2025-26. In contrast, the NFL features much higher individual player earnings; for instance, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott`s highest three-year average salary is $61.6 million, though this is for a single player on a larger roster.
So, how does the NHL`s new minimum salary upon the CBA`s completion compare to its counterparts in North America`s other “Big 4” professional men`s leagues?
The NBA`s league minimum for the 2025-26 season is $1.4 million for a rookie. Players with over 10 years of experience can earn upwards of $3.997 million, though NBA rosters are limited to a maximum of 15 spots.
The NFL, which has a 53-player roster, sets its minimum salary for rookies at $840,000 in 2025. A veteran player with more than seven years of experience will earn a minimum of $1.255 million.
Major League Baseball`s CBA, which expires after the 2026 season, has set the minimum salary for the 2025 season at $760,000, increasing to $780,000 in the subsequent season.
Could This Be Gary Bettman`s Final CBA as Commissioner?
Potentially. Reports from The Athletic in January suggested that the NHL`s Board of Governors had begun planning for Commissioner Gary Bettman`s eventual retirement “in a couple of years” and had started the search process for his successor.
Bettman became the NHL`s first commissioner in 1993. He holds the distinction of being the longest-serving commissioner among the four major men`s professional sports leagues in North America and is also the oldest. Bettman turned 73 in June, while his counterparts Roger Goodell (NFL), Rob Manfred (MLB), and Adam Silver (NBA) are all in their early to mid-60s.
This does not, however, mean he is guaranteed to step down. There are precedents for commissioners in these leagues continuing into their 70s. Ford Frick, the third commissioner of MLB, retired in 1965 at age 71. More recent examples include former NBA commissioner David Stern, who stepped down in 2014 at 71, and former MLB commissioner Bud Selig, who retired in 2015 at the age of 80.
