NHL, union have memo of understanding on new CBA
LOS ANGELES — There will be continued labor peace in the NHL and, most likely, a longer regular season.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Players Association executive director Marty Walsh were part of a joint news conference on Friday at The Peacock Theater to announce a memorandum of understanding on a new four-year collective bargaining agreement to run through Sept. 15, 2030. The current CBA expires on Sept. 15, 2026.
Bettman and Walsh shied away from discussing the particulars because the league and the NHLPA must ratify the agreement.
It is expected to include an increase to an 84-game regular season so each team will play its divisional opponents four times. That two-game rise is expected to be countered with a two-game reduction in the preseason to a four-game schedule.
“I know that’s been widely rumored and that’s certainly one of the things that was a topic of discussion,” Bettman said, adding of the shorter preseason, “That would be the game plan.”
Also expected to be included in the new CBA: Contracts will be restricted to six years for free agents and seven for players re-signing with their team; deferred salaries will not be allowed; playoff rosters must be salary cap-compliant and teams will not be able to dictate dress codes.
“I like having contracts four or five years at the max so you have an opportunity to see what’s right and if there’s a mistake, we can fix it,” Walsh said. “I just think that’s important.”
There has not been a labor stoppage in the NHL since 2012-13.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
