Extended season and the conclusion of EBUG as part of NHL CBA discussions

NHL and Players Association Negotiating New CBA Extension

On Thursday, reports indicated that the NHL and the NHL Players Association are deep into talks regarding a four-year extension of their collective bargaining agreement.

A few key changes are on the table. For starters, the new agreement would increase the regular season to 84 games and create a full-time emergency backup goalie position. Additionally, players’ contract lengths would be capped at seven years, as noted by ESPN.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman shared updates with the Governor’s Committee during a meeting in Los Angeles on Wednesday, ahead of this weekend’s NHL Draft.

This four-year extension would last until September 2030, following the current CBA set to expire after the 2025-26 season. It’s worth mentioning that this will be the first major round of negotiations for NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh, who stepped into the role in March 2023.

There’s a possibility that the updated CBA could be announced as early as Friday, resulting in an increase in the regular season games from 82 to 84. The preseason, however, would see a cutback from six games to four.

Along with the contract limits, the new agreement looks to eliminate deferred salaries, which have become more frequent in recent contracts. For instance, former Ranger Frank Vatrano recently secured a three-year, $18 million extension with the Ducks, with a significant portion of his salary deferred to 2035.

Players can currently re-sign for eight years if they stay with their current team, or seven years if they move to free agency. The new CBA seems to adjust this to a maximum of seven years for current teams and six years for free agents.

The introduction of a full-time emergency backup goalie situation has provided the NHL with some memorable moments, such as 42-year-old David Aids who famously won a game for the Hurricanes in February 2020.

As per the ESPN report, the new arrangement will allow these emergency goalies to practice and travel with their teams.

Moreover, both parties are in discussions about closing loopholes regarding long-term injured reserve that some teams have used in recent seasons. The aim is to ensure compliance with playoff salary caps and to clarify language related to these issues in the upcoming CBA.