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New York Post
13 hours ago
- Business
- New York Post
NHL, NHLPA reach labor peace and sign four-year CBA with longer regular season coming
LOS ANGELES — The NHL has achieved labor peace in our time. The league and the NHLPA announced Friday morning that a memorandum of understanding has been signed on a four-year collective bargaining agreement beginning in the 2026-27 season, with ratification on both sides still needed before things are completely final. Both sides declined to confirm specific details at a press conference Friday morning, citing the need for ratification, but it's been widely reported the NHL will expand to an 84-game regular season, with the preseason being shortened in return. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman speaks before the NHL hockey draft Friday, June 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. AP 'That's certainly one of the things that was a topic of discussion,' commissioner Gary Bettman said. Per The Athletic's Chris Johnston, the CBA also includes a reduction of max contracts to seven years when a player is re-signing and six years for free agents, the elimination of deferred salary and salary cap enforcement during the playoffs. Unlike past CBA negotiations, this one appears to have been relatively smooth sailing, with Bettman and NHLPA head Marty Walsh praising the way both sides worked together in a press conference Friday morning before the draft. 'We started the conversation in end of March, early April. As Gary framed it, very good meetings,' Walsh said. 'Didn't agree on everything, but no major blowouts in the room. We just talked about keeping it in front of us moving forward.' The exact timing for ratification was left unsaid, but the mere fact that a press conference with both sides was held Friday indicates that is not expected to be a stumbling block. Marty Walsh of the NHLPA along with Gary Bettman of the NHL announce a tentative CBA agreement at Peacock Theater on June 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images The four-year length of the CBA was a priority for the PA, Walsh said. The league was happy to oblige. 'I just think it's important, for longer-term contracts, you have players in the league that play that have never gone through negotiations,' Walsh said. 'We have some players that came into this league under the last agreement and retired under the last agreement. They have had a chance to really express their collective bargaining opinions or rights.' No additional details were revealed about the 2026 Olympic kickoff event at UBS Arena or the 2027 All-Star weekend that will also take place on Long Island. Deputy commissioner Bill Daley repeated that this year will be an 'entertainment event' that includes players, and there will be an on-ice event at UBS in 2027; however, the exact format of either is not yet clear.
New York Times
14 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Cut-resistant neck guards to be mandatory for new NHL players in 2026-27: Sources
Players entering the NHL in the 2026-27 season and beyond will be required to wear cut-resistant neck guards as part of the new collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and NHL Players' Association, league sources told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. Players with at least one game played before that season will be grandfathered in and won't be required to wear the neck guards. Advertisement The NHL follows the AHL, which required all players and on-ice officials to wear the protective equipment beginning this past season. The IIHF made neck guards mandatory for all levels of competition — including the Olympics and men's and women's world championships — following Adam Johnson's tragic death in October 2023. Johnson, 29, was playing for the Nottingham Panthers in England's Elite Ice Hockey League when his neck was cut by an opponent's skate blade during a game. A small percentage of NHL players have adopted the protective equipment since. During the league's general manager meetings last September, NHL senior executive vice president Colin Campbell revealed that only 55 of 700 skaters (7.7 percent) were wearing the equipment. A higher percentage of players have started wearing cut-resistant undergarments around their wrists and legs. Los Angeles Kings star Anze Kopitar wore a neck guard for the entire 2024-25 season, as did Pittsburgh's Erik Karlsson, Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin, and Detroit's Marco Kasper. Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson adopted the apparel late in the season after the team acquired veteran forward Brandon Saad, who also wears the neck guard. Similar to how the league introduced mandatory helmets in 1979, the neck guards will only be mandatory for players making their NHL debut in the 2026-27 season. This was first reported by Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
NHL and NHLPA make bold move with surprise CBA deal lasting until 2030
NHL and NHLPA make bold move with surprise CBA deal lasting until 2030 (Image via Getty) Big news just came out before the 2025 NHL Draft. The NHL and the NHL Players' Association have quietly reached a deal that could change the next few years of the league. Many fans and players were not expecting this so early. Now, everyone is talking. The agreement was announced during a live press event in Los Angeles just hours before the draft, and it looks like the NHL will enjoy labor peace for a long time. Gary Bettman and Marty Walsh confirm deal to extend labor agreement through 2030 At a press conference in Los Angeles on Friday, June 28, 2025, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh, and NHLPA Assistant Executive Director Ron Hainsey disclosed that they had approved four years more of the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The current agreement, set to end on September 15, 2026, will now continue through September 15, 2030, if both sides approve it in upcoming votes. Bettman called the extension 'completely refreshing' and said it gives the league, players, and business partners a clear and stable future. Marty Walsh said talks had been ongoing for more than two years. He added that early conversations with Bettman helped build trust. They focused on growing hockey through global events like the Olympics, the World Cup, and the 4 Nations Face-Off, and both sides believed it was time to lock in stability. Players and teams welcome changes as final votes are expected soon The NHL Board of Governors is expected to review the CBA details soon. Bettman said the board had already seen most of the new terms during meetings earlier this week. Meanwhile, the NHLPA will present the deal to players for a full vote within the next week. Though the final document is still private, a few key points have been reported. These include an 84-game regular season, fewer preseason games (now just four), and a new rule for contract length. Players can now sign for seven years with the same team, or six years with a new team. John Tavares, who just signed a four-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs, called the news 'great for the game.' He said this deal shows how much the league has grown, and that things feel more stable than in past years. Also Read: NHL And NHLPA Launch International Bidding For 2028 World Cup Of Hockey Host Cities Bettman praised Walsh for helping keep talks smooth and focused. Both sides said they didn't agree on everything but worked with respect to find a deal that helps everyone. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Toronto Sun
15 hours ago
- Business
- Toronto Sun
What the National Hockey League's CBA extension means for Canada's teams
NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh (left) and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman conduct a joint news conference before the NHL draft on June 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. Photo by Damian Dovarganes / The Associated Press The National Hockey League and NHL Players' Association have decided to give labour peace another chance. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Before the first round of the NHL draft was held Friday night at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, commissioner Gary Bettman and Marty Walsh, the executive director of the union, held a news conference to announce a four-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement. The deal needs to be ratified by the NHL's board of governors and the members of the NHLPA. The players will begin voting next week, and the board of governors saw most of the details during a meeting last Wednesday in Los Angeles. The current agreement will expire in Sept. 2026. The new deal ensures members of the NHL and the fans that there is no chance of labour uncertainty until 2030. The NHL has had several work stoppages, including the 2004-05 lockout that wiped out the whole season. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The most recent lockout was in 2012-13. 'This was a very thorough, constructive and professional process, and I think that bodes very well for the future of the game and the relationship between the players and the league going forward again, while we have an understanding and agreement,' Bettman said on Friday. Walsh echoed those sentiments. 'The process for us now is to take this agreement to the entire membership for ratification; we're going to do that over the next week or so,' Walsh said. 'I'm happy with the process. Hopefully, the players will be happy with the outcome.' So, what does this mean for hockey fans in Canada? All teams will have to be cap-compliant for the playoffs, which will help even the playing field. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The cap will rise significantly over the next three seasons, which will make life more challenging for small-market teams in places such as Ottawa and Winnipeg in a league where the salaries are paid in U.S. dollars. This year, teams can spend up to $95.5 million US, but in 2026-27, that number will rise to $104 million. It will go up to $113 million in 2027-28. If Winnipeg and Ottawa want to spend up to the cap in 2027-29, it will cost the seven clubs north of the border $154 million in Canadian currency, based on the current exchange rate. 'What we were trying to do was catch up after a number of years of a flat cap, and so we were trying to do that on an orderly basis,' Bettman said of releasing salary projections for three seasons. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Over the years, our projections have been pretty good, and while we can always agree to make adjustments if circumstances warrant, we think the projections that we made and the caps that we put in place for the next three years are where they should be.' Yes, the new $11 billion television deal between Rogers and the NHL will help teams cover some of the player costs, but we're going to see ticket price increases because this is a gate-driven league. The TV deal is 12 years and will run through 2037-38. NEW TERM LIMITS The urgency for the Edmonton Oilers to get superstar Connor McDavid signed to an eight-year extension is real. He might not want to go that long, but the possibility of that term will no longer exist once the new CBA kicks in. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Under the new deal, players who stay with their current clubs will be able to sign an extension of up to seven seasons, instead of eight. Free agents who move to a new team will have a term limited to six seasons. HOCKEY-RELATED REVENUES There won't be a change in the way Hockey Related Revenues (HRR) are calculated. HRR is expected to remain a 50/50 split, and the expectation on both sides is that the game will only grow. The league is expected to expand to 34 teams sometime in the next few years. 'There are a number of markets interested,' said Bettman. 'We regularly engage and listen to those expressions of interest we're not envisioning, certainly for the foreseeable future, in a formal expansion process where we ask everybody at one time to step forward and apply. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'You've heard me say before that there are boxes at 10,000 feet that have to be checked when one of those expressions of interest reaches that level. Then we'll take it to the board and see if there's an interest in expanding. It's not something that's being actively pursued at the moment.' EXPANDED SCHEDULE Less meaningless hockey, and more games that mean something, with the season extended to 84 games starting in 2026-27. Training camps will be shorter, with only four pre-season games, which is good news for fans. This is good news because season ticket holders don't love attending pre-season games. SHARP DRESSED NO LONGER? The NHL will relax its dress code rules. Players will no longer be required to show up at the rink in a shirt and tie on a game day. This has always been a tradition in hockey, but the world has changed, and it does feel like a mandate whose time has passed. bgarrioch@ Canada Music Crime Toronto Raptors Toronto Raptors
National Post
15 hours ago
- Business
- National Post
What the National Hockey League's CBA extension means for Canada's teams
The National Hockey League and NHL Players' Association have decided to give labour peace another chance. Article content Before the first round of the NHL draft was held Friday night at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, commissioner Gary Bettman and Marty Walsh, the executive director of the union, held a news conference to announce a four-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement. Article content Article content Article content The deal needs to be ratified by the NHL's board of governors and the members of the NHLPA. The players will begin voting next week, and the board of governors saw most of the details during a meeting last Wednesday in Los Angeles. Article content The current agreement will expire in Sept. 2026. The new deal ensures members of the NHL and the fans that there is no chance of labour uncertainty until 2030. The NHL has had several work stoppages, including the 2004-05 lockout that wiped out the whole season. Article content The most recent lockout was in 2012-13. Article content 'This was a very thorough, constructive and professional process, and I think that bodes very well for the future of the game and the relationship between the players and the league going forward again, while we have an understanding and agreement,' Bettman said on Friday. Article content Walsh echoed those sentiments. Article content 'The process for us now is to take this agreement to the entire membership for ratification; we're going to do that over the next week or so,' Walsh said. 'I'm happy with the process. Hopefully, the players will be happy with the outcome.' Article content So, what does this mean for hockey fans in Canada? Article content All teams will have to be cap-compliant for the playoffs, which will help even the playing field. Article content THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR Article content The cap will rise significantly over the next three seasons, which will make life more challenging for small-market teams in places such as Ottawa and Winnipeg in a league where the salaries are paid in U.S. dollars. Article content This year, teams can spend up to $95.5 million US, but in 2026-27, that number will rise to $104 million. It will go up to $113 million in 2027-28. Article content If Winnipeg and Ottawa want to spend up to the cap in 2027-29, it will cost the seven clubs north of the border $154 million in Canadian currency, based on the current exchange rate. Article content 'What we were trying to do was catch up after a number of years of a flat cap, and so we were trying to do that on an orderly basis,' Bettman said of releasing salary projections for three seasons. Article content 'Over the years, our projections have been pretty good, and while we can always agree to make adjustments if circumstances warrant, we think the projections that we made and the caps that we put in place for the next three years are where they should be.'
