Walsh attended Bruins game and discussed 4 Nations Face-Off, salary cap and CBA.
BOSTON – NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh said Saturday negotiations with the NHL on the expiring collective bargaining agreement will begin after the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off.
The current CBA will expire on Sept. 15, 2026, but Walsh and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman both believe a new deal will be finalized before that date. Walsh said he’s currently putting together a negotiating committee and added that there’s already a mutual respect between he sides.
“We’re working well together,” he said. “It’s business and we’re growing the game of hockey, getting more fans to watch hockey. On the union side of it, we’re going to enter into negotiations sometime in the near future and there’s a respect on both sides. Any time I’ve been involved in labor negotiation, or watched it go bad is when one side doesn’t respect the other side. That’s not happening in this particular case and that’s a good way to start a negotiation.”
On Friday, the sides announced an agreement that will provide increased predictability on core salary cap economics for a minimum of the next three years and through the 2027-28 season. The increases are significant and a positive sign for the league and its players. The salary cap will be $95.5 million (2025-26), $104 million (2026-27) and $113.5 million (2027-28).
Walsh said since the increases were only announced Friday, he hasn’t received too much feedback from the players at this point.
“Not much yet,” he said. “It just went out yesterday, and the way it went out quickly, so we had to respond quickly and let our players know. I think a lot of players will be satisfied. They’re happy to see this type of growth. They haven’t seen this type of growth – ever. Also, predictability for the next couple of seasons, so putting that out there, too, is a benefit to the players and the fans to understand what’s happening here.”
In December, Bettman said he’s happy with his relationship with Walsh and both are working towards figuring out what’s best and most sensible for the game, its players and the league.
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