The NHL and the NHLPA held a press conference on Friday afternoon, highlighting the key points of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which has been agreed in principle. Amongst the numerous modifications, one stuck with me: the new 84-game calendar. With 82 games per season, for some, the season is already long enough, but this change will have two consequences: a shorter preseason and the possibility for each team to play four games per season against each team in its division. Canadiens: Chasing Big Trade For Dobson [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-chasing-big-trade-for-dobson] Canadiens: Gorton Speaks On The Eve Of The Draft [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-gorton-speaks-on-the-eve-of-the-draft] Canadiens: Acquiring A Centre Without Paying The Big Bucks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-acquiring-a-centre-without-paying-the-big-bucks] Preseason games are a necessary evil, not so much for the regulars to get back into the swing of things, as it once was. Nowadays, the players show up to camp already in shape; they don’t need two weeks to work out and eliminate the weight of the Summer’s excesses. If you’re not ready for the start of camp, you get left behind. The Montreal Canadiens [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens] had two perfect examples in Kirby Dach last season; he played catch-up all year before finally being injured, and in Joshua Roy, who couldn’t make the team and was sent down to Laval. Rookies and fringe players do need those games to show what they can do and sway the brass’ collective mind in their favour, and the bottom line is, they need some NHL caliber competition in those games so that it’s possible to see how they will cope with opponents of that caliber. However, there’s no need to have as many games as have taken place, especially since players risk injuries when they play in these meaningless games that have no impact on the standings. Need I remind you of Patrik Laine and David Reinbacher’s knee injuries last season? As for the possibility of playing four games per season against each divisional rival, it just makes sense, and it’s fairer that way. The team that didn’t get to play the top team in its division as many times as the others had an unfair advantage; this will level the playing field. The new calendar will also allow each team to play three games against each of the other teams in their division and two games against each team in the opposing conference, resulting in one home game and one away game. The time when fans would go without having a visit from some of the top players in a season is over. The Bell Center fans will get to see the likes of the Colorado Avalanche [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche]' Nathan MacKinnon, and the Edmonton Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers]' Connor McDavid, and Leon Draisaitl every year, and I don’t think anyone will be complaining. Canadiens fans like to see their team win, but they know their hockey and enjoy seeing the best of the best. Also, the extra two games when the 84-game season kicks in for the 2026-2027 campaign would allow Brendan Gallagher to play exactly 1,000 games as a Montreal Canadiens in his current contract, providing he plays all the game of course. After Andrei Markov was robbed of the achievement, it would be great to see the alternate captain make it. Photo credit: Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwo-DfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen], never to miss a story. Follow Karine on X @KarineHains [https://x.com/KarineHains] Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/karinehains.bsky.social] and Threads @karinehains [https://www.threads.net/@karinehains]. Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/] for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens. Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens] on The Hockey News.
