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Major NHL Changes Coming in 2026-27 Which Will Hit the Vancouver Canucks And Other Teams Hard
Photo credit: NHL Media
Some big changes are coming to the National Hockey League ahead of the 2026-27 season as they officially ratified the new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the players and owners on Tuesday.
It's safe to say that the National Hockey League is in a better place than its ever been with record revenues in the last couple of seasons and skyrocketing franchise values which has allowed them to make big increases in the salary cap over the next few seasons with it projected to be as high as $113 million US in 2027-28.
As part of the league's return to play protocol back in the summer of 2020, the NHL and the NHLPA agreed to an extension of the Collective Bargaining Agreement which ends in 2026, however, the two sides got to work earlier this year on a new deal, which was officially announced on Tuesday.
Big changes on the horizon in the NHL after new CBA is ratified
On Tuesday morning, National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the players and the owners have voted to ratify the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) which will begin in 2026 and run through the 2029-30 season.
"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.
We are grateful to the Board of Governors for its support of this agreement that strengthens our game and ensures we are collectively delivering a great fan experience in the years to come." Bettman said.
We are grateful to the Board of Governors for its support of this agreement that strengthens our game and ensures we are collectively delivering a great fan experience in the years to come." Bettman said.
There are quite a few massive changes coming to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2026, according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger, some of which fans will be very happy with.
Among changes coming next year include a longer regular season (84 games); shorter preseason (4 games) & training camp; the salary cap begin enforced in the Stanley Cup Playoffs;
mandatory neck guards for those entering the league starting in 2026-27 and shorter maximum contract lengths - six years for those on the open market and seven years for those re-signing with their current club.
"Full details of the deal will be available at a later date, but league sources have confirmed several major changes to The Athletic - the most notable of which is a shift to an 84-game regular season beginning in 2026-27.
To accommodate this increase, the preseason schedule will be limited to only four games and training camp will be shortened.
The new CBA includes increases to the minimum salary and the players' playoff fund. It also includes a new playoff salary-cap system that closes the long-term injured reserve loophole.
On the ice, cut-resistant neck guards will be mandatory for all players entering the league starting with the 2026-27 season." Granger said on Tuesday.
To accommodate this increase, the preseason schedule will be limited to only four games and training camp will be shortened.
The new CBA includes increases to the minimum salary and the players' playoff fund. It also includes a new playoff salary-cap system that closes the long-term injured reserve loophole.
On the ice, cut-resistant neck guards will be mandatory for all players entering the league starting with the 2026-27 season." Granger said on Tuesday.
Having a salary cap in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is something fans have been wanting for quite a few years now because of certain teams using an LTIR loophole to activate players ahead of Game 1 of their respective first round series.
One change that fans might be indifferent about is the increased amount of games during the regular season, going back to 84, something the league has done twice before - 1992-93 and 1993-94, with the two extra contests being used in neutral sites those years, but that won't be the case this time around.
Full details are expected to be released by the National Hockey League in the near future, likely before puck drops on the 2025-26 season in October.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 8 | 2331 ANSWERS Major NHL Changes Coming in 2026-27 Which Will Hit the Vancouver Canucks And Other Teams Hard Which of the new changes coming to the NHL in 2026-27 is your favorite? | ||
| 84-game regular season | 360 | 15.4 % |
| Shorter preseason/training camp | 498 | 21.4 % |
| Playoff salary cap | 1010 | 43.3 % |
| Mandatory neck guards | 463 | 19.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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