NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman stated that discussions between the league and its players` union concerning a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) are currently in `really good shape`.
Speaking ahead of the first game of the Stanley Cup Final rematch featuring the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers, he emphasized that the current CBA talks with the NHL Players` Association are notably smoother and have `no comparison` to previous negotiations.
Bettman commended the NHLPA`s executive director, Marty Walsh, for contributing to a `very constructive, professional, cordial dialogue`. However, the commissioner confirmed that no formal announcement regarding an agreement was planned for Wednesday.
The existing CBA, which was prolonged during the COVID-19 pandemic at a time when the NHL`s financial stability was uncertain, is slated to expire on September 15, 2026.
The positive atmosphere surrounding these negotiations is a welcome development for hockey enthusiasts who remember the league`s history of labor disputes, including the complete cancellation of the 2004-05 season due to a lockout and shortened campaigns in both 1994-95 and 2012-13.
In related news, the NHL is set to return to the Olympics next year in Italy. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly indicated that the league does not anticipate the International Olympic Committee or the International Ice Hockey Federation lifting their ban on Russian teams. Consequently, Russian players currently in the NHL are expected to be unable to participate in these Games, which would mark the first Olympic appearance for the world`s top players since 2014, due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Tristan Blackwood