The National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (PA) have agreed on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), set to take effect with the 2026-27 season. The deal, pending ratification from both league owners and full PA membership, includes several significant changes.
The current CBA expires at the end of this season, but will now be extended until 2030 under the new agreement. Key additions include a reduced regular season schedule of 84 games, starting in 2026-27, with the preseason shortened to four games per team.
Players with over 100 career games played will be limited to two preseason games, and signing bonuses will be capped at 60% of their salary. The maximum length of re-signing contracts has also been reduced from eight years to seven years, while new contracts can now last up to six years.
A new “full-time” Emergency Backup Goalie role has been introduced, where a designated player will travel and practice with the team, replacing amateur goalies in this capacity. The salary cap is expected to increase significantly, with estimates ranging from $95.5 million to $113 million.
Other notable changes include eliminating dress codes for players arriving at or leaving games and introducing more divisional play within the schedule. The full details of the CBA can be found here.
Source: https://www.nhl.com/devils/news/nhl-nhlpa-reach-cba-extension-agreement-blog-6-27-25