(Reuters) -The National Hockey League and NHL Players’ Association have ratified a four-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement, securing labor peace through the 2029-30 season, the two parties said on Tuesday.
Reaching an agreement more than a year before the current CBA expires is a welcome sign for a league that has experienced three lockouts in the last 30 years.
Among the changes that have been reported is the regular season expanding to 84 games per team from 82 while the pre-season drops to four games from six per team.
In a joint press release, the league and union said the deal was ratified by the NHLPA’s full membership and the NHL’s Board of Governors.
“The partnership between the Players’ Association and the league is stronger than it ever has been and working together under this agreement presents a fantastic opportunity to continue to grow the game,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a press release.
The current CBA, which was signed in 2013 and extended in 2020, expires in September 2026.
“This CBA shows what can be accomplished when the NHL and the union work together – an agreement that will allow for the continued worldwide growth of the game. That is a win for everyone,” said NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Ken Ferris)
