NHL, NHLPA Agree to Four-Year CBA Extension Through 2030

The NHL and NHL Players' Association have agreed to a four-year extension of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), ensuring labor peace through at least 2030, marking the earliest such agreement in Commissioner Gary Bettman's tenure. The extension, set to begin in September 2026, will increase the regular season from 82 to 84 games, reduce pre-season games, and introduce several contract modifications, including shortening maximum contract lengths to seven years for extensions and six years for free agents. Other significant changes include eliminating deferred-salary contracts, limiting signing bonuses to 60 percent of total value, introducing a salary cap mechanism for the playoffs to close the LTIR loophole, and raising the minimum salary to $1 million. The agreement was reached after a collaborative and professional negotiation process, contrasting past contentious talks that led to multiple lockouts, including the cancellation of the 2004-05 season. Both sides still need to ratify the deal, but optimism remains high for its approval, which would represent the first comprehensive CBA update since 2013. The extension aims to enhance player benefits, create uniform team rights to draft picks until age 22, and eliminate the team dress code, reflecting a modernized approach to league operations.