2026 NHL CBA negotiations, issues

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Betrman would like to start negotiations in January and have completed deal by June, months before expiration.

Article mentions a number of potential CBA discussions. Including reducing preseason games to four, and adding two RS games.

Just as a thing, but this rhetoric is vastly different than the rhetoric before any of the lockouts:

“We think we’re collectively, in terms of the relationship, in a good place.”

“My guess is, on either side, we’re not talking about fundamental changes,” Bettman said this weekend on The Varsity podcast with John Ourand. “I think we’re looking at things we’d each like to see improved in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, but I’m not concerned that we’re looking at something will take us down a road nobody wants to go down.”
 

Betrman would like to start negotiations in January and have completed deal by June, months before expiration.

Article mentions a number of potential CBA discussions. Including reducing preseason games to four, and adding two RS games.
So that would be over a year in advance then.
 
Check out this Podcast: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly 32 Thoughts: The podcast

32 Thoughts podcast. Friedman has waiver wire suggestion about 70 minutes in. Put previous claiming team at bottom of waiver priority.
That's a "no thanks" from me

The NHL is good at knee jerk reactions to things that happen exactly as the CBA designed it to happen but that are rare



Bumping waiver priority will just deter any use of the waiver system
 
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Seems crazy that is not already a thing. Would allow teams to load manage better to ensure they are fit and ready to go for the playoffs.

Teams are already given enough cap and roster space to carry a 3rd goaltender temporarily or permanently as the team sees fit.

There are two semi-related, but independent issues going on in my view:

A) Teams who don’t leave themselves enough cap space to call up a 3rd goaltender temporarily when injuries happen.

B) Teams trying to send their waiver eligible 3rd goaltender to the AHL, when there will be teams missing a 2nd tender or dealing with injuries prepared to claim that goaltender for their NHL roster. Even if that claim turns out to be short term and the goaltender is on waivers again in upcoming weeks.


Again in my opine:

(A) Is a problem of the team’s own creating. A CBA change shouldn’t be necessary to resolve a self-inflicted cap space shortage.

(B) I’d guess overall more goaltenders benefit by being claimed on waivers than harmed. Many examples of 3rd/4th string goaltenders who got their breakout with the opportunity to be a 2nd or even temporary 1st on another team.
 
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So that would be over a year in advance then.
Well, CBA is set to expire in September 2026, but just before entering the final year, all ELC are then hit at their bonus amounts, and I assume all veteran ones as well, and not just the $925K base salary for the top prospect as without a future year of the current CBA, there are no assurances that bonuses will carryover as per the current CBA.
 


Friedman with an interesting waiver wrinkle: ability for teams to "trade up" for one day to make a claim. What the "currency" would be is TBD.
 
Friedman also shared some ideas on coach's challenge. Teams allowed 3 a season; if successful, keep 3, if not loses one. Perhaps increase to 3/mo or 10/yr.

And a time limit to make determination (not a really blatant miss).
 
Friedman also shared some ideas on coach's challenge. Teams allowed 3 a season; if successful, keep 3, if not loses one. Perhaps increase to 3/mo or 10/yr.

And a time limit to make determination (not a really blatant miss).
Both dumb ideas from EF
 
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I think they’ll run into a problem in that if you block a team that places a claim, it becomes known information to people that it’s not supposed to be
 
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