The NHL and NHLPA appear ready to announce the new framework of the league’s collective bargaining agreement as soon as Friday. The Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports the two parties are expected to share their progress ahead of the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft after signing a “Memorandum of Understanding.”
According to The Athletic’s Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun, several league-wide tweaks are expected to be included in a potential four-year extension of the CBA, which have been rumored for months. Paramount among them is the league’s transition to an 84-game schedule, which will begin with the 2026-27 campaign.
The 84-game schedule, which will see teams play all of their divisional rivals four times each per season, will be introduced alongside a preseason shortened to four games per team. Currently, NHL teams typically play a minimum of six preseason games up to a maximum of eight.
Under the new terms of the CBA, teams will now only be allowed to offer contracts of a maximum of seven years to re-signing players, down from eight, and a maximum of six years to those signed in free agency, down from seven. Deferred-salary contracts will also be eliminated.
Teams like the Carolina Hurricanes have utilized deferred compensation contracts to secure a modest amount of cap savings. For example, per PuckPedia, Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis deferred signing bonus payments in his contract to the end of his eight-year extension, reducing his $7.9 million cap hit to $7.42 million.
Additionally, after years of long-term injured reserve abuse in the playoffs, the league will be closing the loophole by implementing a postseason salary cap system. The system likely mirrors Kings’ general manager Ken Holland’s idea of having whichever 20 players a team decides to line up in a playoff game fit under the cap.
A new provision will also see teams allowed to carry a full-time emergency backup goaltender (EBUG). In the past, emergency goalies have typically been local players, coaches, or even Zamboni drivers who are on standby; however, they often lack prior professional experience. In the Capitals’ first-round playoff series, the Habs emergency goaltender was a local independent wrestler and police officer.
The current CBA doesn’t expire until September 15, 2026. After the two parties sign the Memorandum of Understanding, NHL owners and the NHLPA’s membership will need to ratify the new deal.
