NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said a new collective bargaining agreement with the NHLPA could come into place well before the current CBA expires in 2026.
As the league’s board of governors met Tuesday, Bettman told reporters the NHL would begin discussing CBA specifics with the NHLPA in early 2025. He said a final deal could be hammered out before the 2024-25 postseason concludes. A positive relationship between parties has given him optimism.
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“I don’t want to speculate, but if we have [the CBA] done by my media [availability] in the Stanley Cup Final, everyone would be very happy,” Bettman said.
Bettman added that “everybody’s got some homework to do,” noting the NHLPA is in the process of meeting with its members to discuss CBA priorities. “The union’s on their full tour, so no big deal,” he said.
The NHL has endured three lockouts in the past 30 years, more than any other major sports league in the United States. The last took place in 2012-13, shortening that season to 48 games.
Bettman, 72, has led the NHL since 1993. He is the longest-serving chief executive among major North American pro sports leagues and is eager to guide the league through its first decade of labor peace under his tenure.
While the NHL projected confidence in getting a new CBA, this week did see a contractual dispute between a player and team spill into public view. Boston Bruins president Cam Neely and goaltender Jeremy Swayman are sparring over stalled negotiations, with Neely taking the unusual step of floating specific dollar amounts in a press conference.
The 2024-25 NHL season is scheduled to begin on Friday in Europe before beginning play in North America next Tuesday.
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