The general managers’ meeting allowed Gary Bettman and Bill Daly to survey the waters for upcoming collective agreement negotiations.
This agreement with the Players Association comes to an end following the 2025-2026 season. The current collective agreement has been effective retroactively since September 2012. Disagreements during negotiations forced the triggering of a lockout, which led to a shortened season which was launched in 2013.
Our collaborator for The AthleticPierre LeBrun, shared during his visit to 5 to 7 that one of the subjects that the directors general would like to see addressed at the negotiating table is that of the duration of contracts. The hockey informant reports that the CEOs would like a reduction in the duration below eight years or even seven years when the signing occurs after July 1 for free agents. This issue was also raised in 2012 during previous negotiations, but the directors general would like it to be on the agenda again.
This request could, however, be more of a wish than a priority for the League.
Lebrun brings this nuance that Bill Daly shared with him. According to him, the state of mind in view of the negotiations for the next collective agreement, the talks of which could be launched at the beginning of 2025, is positive at the moment. It is therefore not impossible that NHL representatives will not make this issue an important issue in their discussions with members of the Players’ Association.
In addition to 2012, we will remember the lockout which led to the cancellation of the 2004-2005 season in the NHL. The current collective agreement obtained an extension of the agreement in July 2020 for the relaunch of activities following the shutdown with the COVID-19 pandemic.
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