NHL’s new CBA starts Sept. 16 with an 84-game season

Clubs must now carry an emergency goalie on every trip.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 81 min read

What happened: The four-year NHL-NHLPA agreement runs through Sept. 15, 2030. Experienced players face a 13-day camp, down from 20, and those with at least 100 NHL games may appear in no more than two exhibitions.

Why it matters: Replacing two exhibitions with regular-season dates gives each club more games that count while compressing roster evaluations. First-round Canadian Hockey League picks can now be assigned to the American Hockey League at age 19, expanding development options.

By the numbers: The regular season grows 2.4%, from 82 to 84 games. Veteran camp is cut 35%, while the maximum team exhibition schedule falls 33%, from six games to four.

What to watch: Training camps open Sept. 16, followed by an eight-day preseason beginning Sept. 19. The 2026-27 regular season starts Sept. 29.

Sources

Yahoo NHL 2026-09-08T21:03:20.608025+00:00

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