When the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association signed off on a new collective bargaining agreement earlier in the summer, many were left wondering when the changes would take place. This was the first time in the Gary Bettman era that a deal was struck more than a year before the current CBA expires.
It’s been reported that some of the new rules regarding draft rights might begin immediately, even if the new CBA doesn’t technically begin until Sept. 16, 2026.
But among the changes that won’t begin until then: Contract length limitations and salary bonus structure.
On the latest 32 Thoughts, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman sat down with Marty Walsh and Ron Hainsey, who head the NHLPA. Hainsey confirmed that none of the changes to contract length and salary structure will be put into play until mid-September.
With the change, players re-signing with their current clubs can only sign for up to seven years and unrestricted free agents signing with a new club can only lock in for a maximum of six years. There will also be a 60% cap on how much of a contract can be allocated toward signing bonuses.
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This is good for the Avs. It means they can still use the current CBA to sign extensions for both Martin Necas and, more importantly, Cale Makar.
Necas is an unrestricted free agent next July 1. If the Avs come to terms on a new deal with the forward, they’ll be able to give him eight years and allocate more bonus money to the contract. But that was always the case because Necas has been eligible to sign an extension for nearly two months now.
Makar’s next deal was always up in the air. It was rumored that the new contract rules would come into play on July 1, 2026, before Hainsey confirmed otherwise. Given that Makar is ineligible to sign an extension until that day, this is huge news for Colorado.
In order for the Avalanche to get Makar locked up for the current maximum term of eight years, they have to sign him before Sept. 16, 2026. That’ll give them two and a half months next summer to get a contract signed.
I’d suspect they’ll want to get things done pretty quickly, but that’s not always the case. For example, MacKinnon didn’t sign his early extension in 2022 until right before training camp began in September. And right now, the Edmonton Oilers and Connor McDavid are still without a new contract.
If Makar’s extension talks drag into August or September, the new starting date for the new CBA will likely be the first deadline to get things done. I’d imagine Makar, who will be in his mid 30s at the conclusion of his next deal, would also rather have the option to sign for eight years instead of seven.
The Avs will also be able to front load Makar’s contract with yearly bonuses if they sign before Sept. 16, just like they did with MacKinnon. Nearly 85% of the Avalanche’s star centerman’s current contract is made up of bonuses.
That’s often what players prefer, which gives Makar added motivation to get a deal done.
