What happened: The new agreement took effect Sept. 16 and sets an 84-game season leading into the Sept. 29 opener. Daily access is capped at three hours for practices and meetings, with veterans over 100 games limited to two appearances. Pittsburgh opens exhibitions Sept. 21 against Buffalo and Sept. 22 against Detroit.

Why it matters: The first three practice days and first two exhibitions now carry outsized weight for roster spots, with no room to give every invite a game. Assistant general manager Jason Spezza pointed to earlier arrivals and extra urgency, while head coach Dan Muse plans intentional practices and intersquad looks to sort combinations.

What to watch: Exhibition assignments over the next week will signal who separated in the opening practices.