2026 NHL CBA negotiations, issues

[Tawnos]

Bettman says NHL hopes to extend CBA with NHLPA by June, 15 months before expiration

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

www.dailyfaceoff.com

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.”

 

[LadyStanley]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1841876778786173417

2nd half of interview addresses preseason. First, teams set up preseason schedule months in advance of any announcement of preseason overseas play. Second, perhaps shorten PS to 4 games (& add 2 RS). Both could be discussion point in CBA negotiations.

 

[sneakytitz]

They're going to be cutting it close but I think it's doable. I don't see any hurdles (YET) that could be especially problematic.

 

[LadyStanley]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1844361265155891433

Paywall

 

[LadyStanley]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1844743869335834823

Speculation about Bettman wanting to announce new CBA before Stanley Cup game 1 so much that they might tear up last year of current CBA and have BIG cap jump.

 

[LadyStanley]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1844804255611584845

 

[Golden_Jet]

Bettman says NHL hopes to extend CBA with NHLPA by June, 15 months before expiration

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

www.dailyfaceoff.com

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.

 

[mouser]

So that would be over a year in advance then.

Would make a lot of sense to do a new CBA earlier now that the Covid overpayment balance has been settled.

 

[varsaku]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1844804255611584845

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.

 

[LadyStanley]

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.

 

[uncleben]

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