NHL CBA Talks to Begin in 2025

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the league expects to begin negotiations with the NHL Players' Association on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in early 2025, well ahead of the current CBA's expiration in September 2026. Bettman indicated that the NHL salary cap is projected to increase to $92.5 million for the 2025-26 season, up from the current $88 million. One potential change under discussion for the new CBA is reducing the number of preseason games and extending the regular season to 84 games. Bettman expressed optimism about the relationship between the league and the players' union, suggesting that a deal could potentially be finalized by the time of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. This proactive approach aims to avoid a lockout, similar to those that disrupted the 2004-05 and 2012-13 seasons.