NHL plans to open CBA talks with players at start of 2025 - ESPN

NEW YORK — Commissioner Gary Bettman said the NHL will open collective bargaining agreement talks with the players at the start of 2025 and is optimistic about getting a deal done.

The current CBA expires Sept. 15, 2026. Bettman informed the league's board of governors about opening negotiations during their meeting Tuesday in New York.

«In terms of timing that's probably the most realistic, which is still well in advance [of its expiration],» Bettman said. «In terms of the relationship, we think we're in a good place.»

NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh recently started his tour of all 32 teams to better understand what the players want out of the next CBA. This will be the first agreement negotiated by Walsh, who took over for Don Fehr in February 2023.

Bettman said he didn't want to speculate about how quickly a deal could get done.

«If we had it done by my media availability at the Stanley Cup Final, everybody would be very happy,» Bettman said. «But that's not a discussion, in terms of the timetable, that I've had with Marty Walsh, so I don't want to put any unfair parameters on it. It'll be what it'll be, but I think based on the status of our relationship, this will be fine.»

Among the topics the owners and players will discuss for the next CBA is an adjustment to the league's schedule. Reducing the number of preseason games and expanding the NHL's 82-game regular season is «on a list of things to think about» for the owners ahead of the next CBA, Bettman said.

Sources told ESPN in December 2022 that the NHL had discussed expanding the season to 84 games to create more regional rivalry matchups. The league has been considering alternatives to its current schedule after some teams complained about an imbalanced