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FILE - NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, left, speaks before Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers, June 8, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. At right is NHL Players Association Director Marty Walsh. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, file)

Talks on a new NHL CBA are set to start early next year. Here's why there is optimism

Talks on a new collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and NHL Players' Association are set to begin in early 2025

By STEPHEN WHYNO
Published - Dec 03, 2024, 12:00 PM ET
Last Updated - Dec 16, 2024, 05:08 PM EST

The NHL's collective bargaining agreement does not expire until Sept. 15, 2026. That discussions are set to begin on a new deal in early 2025 is already one step ahead of where hockey has been in labor negotiations in the past.

Commissioner Gary Bettman earlier this week said he expects talks with the NHL Players' Association to begin in February, around the time stakeholders are together for the 4 Nations Face-Off that stands as the latest example of collaboration in the sport. Both sides have issues to broach and changes they want, but the trajectory of the league combined with the strong working relationship between Bettman and union executive director Marty Walsh means there is reason for optimism in a sport that has had three labor stoppages in the past three decades.

Bettman is in the midst of canvassing owners and general managers and Walsh his membership of over 700 players to figure out the issues that are most important to them.

The salary cap system and 50/50 split of revenue that has been in place are not likely to change, and there is already an agreement in place to send NHL players to the Olympics in 2026 and 2030. That leaves a handful of topics to go over.

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