The PWHL / PWHPA collective bargaining agreement is ratified, and many answers, along with a few questions, are beginning to emerge.

The new CBA has arrived. As initially reported by The Hockey News, many of the compensation questions are enclosed in the PWHL / PWHLPA collective bargaining agreement, but as with every league, many other items will be outlined in league policy and by laws that have yet to be created, or made public.

Following an examination of the collective bargaining agreement, here are five early questions:

1. How will rosters be formed?

The new PWHL has yet to decide "how" rosters will be formed. The collective bargaining agreement states that the PWHL has sole discretion on roster composition, sources of players, and how players are are assigned. The CBA does discuss a draft, which contractually must be discussed between the PWHL and PWHLPA within the next 20 days. According to 2022 Zoom calls to players, a draft would occur and players would have no input into where they are located. As the trades, loans, and transfers portion of the Standard Player Agreement states, "the Player may be reassigned to any Team in the League as directed by the PWHL."

There is a roster freeze date that will go into effect, which is yet to be determined, after which point players cannot be waived or traded.

2. Contract Lengths

Aside from the six or more three-year contracts mandated in the CBA, and the potential for players to sign short term 10-day contracts, maximum contract lengths are not defined in the collective bargaining agreement. Could there be eight year contracts as there are in the NHL? The PHF had maximum two-year deals, but the new PWHL / PWHLPA CBA defines inaugural three-year deals. How long are players eligible to sign for? That's yet to be seen. Since all contracts can be terminated at any point in the season prior to a roster freeze, long term contracts, other than those protected by the inaugural season, may not be the norm.

3. Will there actually be a full 2023-2024 season?

While the presumption is a full season coming beginning in January 2024, there is language in the Collective Bargain Agreement that could raise doubts. In "Section 27.4. Number of Regular Season Game" a line reads "in all Seasons except for the 2023-2024 Season, Teams may play no fewer than thirty (30) Regular Season Games and no more than thirty-two (32) Regular Season Games in a single League Season, unless otherwise approved by the PWHLPA."

Similarly, wording in the CBA states the inaugural season is "anticipated to be 2023-2024."

It seems certain there will be a 2023-2024 season following the acquisition of the PHF, but with the World Championships scheduled for the middle of the inaugural season, it will be interesting to see how many games, and what format season one takes.

4. Will independent ownership and expansion emerge?

The mention of a maximum of 32 game regular season seems restricted, but it comes with the caveat of "unless otherwise approved by the PWHLPA," which shows that number could grow, or shrink. For expansion to occur to even eight teams in the future, an expansion of games would likely come as well. 

One of the major critiques made by PWHPA members in the past was that the PHF did not have diversified ownership. It was a concern within the PHF as well that single entities operated multiple teams. In the new PWHL, a single ownership group will own and operate all franchises. Inevitably, as new investors show interest in the league, separate owners will emerge, either team by team, or all at once. The Collective Bargaining Agreement does not mention this, but defines "Team Operators" and "Related Entities." A related entity in particular is defined as "any Person who directly or indirectly is the beneficial owner of ten percent (10%) or more of any class of equity securities of the PWHL or the Team Operator..."

5. Spousal and Child Care Considerations

When the world learned of Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey's engagement, it was an exciting time for hockey fans. The question however, of how to respect families in terms of placing or drafting players is not answered in the CBA. Will there be consideration for partners and spouses in the inaugural selection of players? Or will families with multiple players in the league be sent to different cities and countries.

Similarly, if those families have children, child care assistance becomes important.

The CBA in Section 9.8, discusses a "Dependent Care Assistance Program" that mentions child care, although the specific will likely be included in a separate policy. Each team is restricted to five hours of training, meetings, or practice per day. As families with children enter the league, could mandatory child care provisions be provided for families with both parents in the league? It would be a welcomed addition if not already planned for. The CBA discusses parental leave, including eight weeks of parental leave paying 100% salary, and other aspects of family, team/league mandated child care support for families with both partners/spouses in the league could be a point of discussion.