NHL and Players' Association to Begin CBA Talks in 2025 with Optimism for Early Resolution
With the current agreement set to expire in 2026, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA's Marty Walsh express confidence in reaching a new deal well ahead of the deadline.
- The NHL and NHLPA plan to start negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement in early 2025, aiming for completion before the 2024-25 postseason ends.
- Commissioner Gary Bettman expressed optimism about the positive relationship between the league and players, which could facilitate a smooth negotiation process.
- Discussions may include expanding the regular-season schedule from 82 to 84 games while reducing the preseason, addressing team concerns over divisional game imbalances.
- The NHL's economic health post-pandemic, with rising franchise values and a projected salary cap increase, supports a collaborative atmosphere for negotiations.
- Marty Walsh, NHLPA's executive director since 2023, is currently gathering player input, marking his first CBA negotiation as the union's leader.