One thing that was clear during our polling of NHL players at the recent player media tours in Las Vegas and Milan is that they feel the NHL is in a great spot and are very satisfied with the job the NHL Players’ Association, specifically executive director Marty Walsh and assistant executive director Ron Hainsey, did across the table from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly during the latest collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
Things were so harmonious that the NHL and NHLPA extended the agreement well in advance of its expiration for a change.
“We don’t want that hanging over our head as players, as a league, as fans,” Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel said. “The league’s in a really good place right now.”
After playing two years in the NHL, Jordan Eberle was assigned to AHL Oklahoma City during the NHL’s last work stoppage in 2012. He still remembers how unsettled things were back then and the uncertainty of not knowing, Are we coming back? What’s going on?
“The league’s in a great state right now,” the now-Seattle Kraken captain said.
Players are so happy with where the league’s at, in fact, that in asking them “What’s one thing the new CBA doesn’t address that you wish it did?” the most common response was some version of “nothing.”
“I think most of the players are happy with how everything rolled out this year,” Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki said. “Obviously, we don’t want to go into any kind of type of lockout again, but our PA is really good. They do a lot of work for us and give us all the information that we need to make the final call in the end. … I think overall, both sides came to a good agreement and we’re happy that we can keep playing with little hiccups.”
Sure, some things could always be better.
Some players said that they wished the playoff format had been changed and that there was a play-in like the NBA.
“But I know Gary’s totally against it,” one Western Conference center said. (Players’ answers were anonymous so they could speak freely, although many did agree to go on the record with specific responses.)
A handful of players weren’t ecstatic about the extended 84-game seasons that will begin in 2026-27, with one Eastern Conference forward saying, “I think 82 is plenty.”
And half a dozen players wished there was some way to address the perceived advantage teams like the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators, Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken have because they play in states where no income tax is removed from paychecks beyond federal income taxes.
This is something Hainsey himself doesn’t see as a problem yet, and as one Eastern Conference goalie said, “While I think it’s an issue, I don’t know how you make it work or fix it. What if a guy is traded from a no-state-tax state to a state-tax state or vice versa?”
There were plenty of things players do like about the new CBA. They don’t have to wear suits to games anymore — though they must dress in a manner consistent with “contemporary fashion norms” for games and travel. Also, starting next year, the NHL is eliminating training camp fitness tests and reducing training camp to 13 days for players who played 50 games the previous season and 18 days for others, and also going to a maximum of four preseason games — or two for players with 100 games of service.
Some players are also pleased that the CBA closes the LTIR loophole by introducing a playoff salary cap.
“I thought they did a really good job,” Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond said.
Here are further thoughts from players on each of those topics.
No dress code
As one Western Conference forward said, “I’m still wearing suits. It’s part of your routine. What am I going to do with them? Just keep them in closet?”
Added another Western Conference forward, “It’s a nice feeling on a game day. Not a lot of other times you can wear a suit. Maybe a wedding?”
Another Western Conference forward concurred: “I don’t agree with the dress code. I like to wear suits. We’re professionals. It’s not that hard.”
But a number of players like the fact that the league and union will now allow players to express themselves more.
“Comparing to other leagues, you see a lot of players showcase themselves and fashion out,” said an Eastern Conference defenseman. “A lot of players built that into a brand. Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander) on OKC is like a walking fashion show for high-fashion brands. You don’t see that with hockey players.”
Many players said they’d keep suits in the rotation but, especially on the road, will have days they dress more casually or stylish.
“For the road, it’s so much easier when you don’t have to carry the suits around,” an Eastern Conference defenseman said.
Youngster Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks is one who enjoys wearing a suit and tie, saying, “It’s just business. You’re coming to work. But at the same time, I think it’s good to kind of show your style if you have any.”
Added New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes, “It’s up to the individual, right? I’d say you’ll see a lot of suits, though, just because guys probably spent so much money on suits over the years. Some guys have been playing 15 years. They probably have 50 suits. And that’s crazy. … But, yeah, that would be great, just going to the rink and wearing whatever you want to wear.”
Nashville Predators veteran Brady Skjei said, “We have some guys who have some pretty good style, so it’ll be fun to let them loose a little bit. But I won’t be one of those guys.”
Added Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis, “I don’t know where I’m going to take it. If they start letting sweats into the rink, then I’m gonna be all over that.”
No fitness testing
The same player who feels it’s professional to wear suits to games is bothered by the elimination of fitness testing starting next season.
“I mean, we’re professional athletes. We should be testing,” he said.
Another Eastern Conference defenseman agreed, saying, “There should be fitness testing, just standardized for all teams.”
And that’s what another Western Conference forward said it all comes down to: “Testing right now is team-based. It doesn’t affect us too much, but some teams have horrible testing.”
A player who plays for one of those teams said, “Those tests are always a grind. None of us look forward to the start of camp.”
Jarvis is a fan of the change. “No fitness testing, when that kicks off, I’m gonna be a happy camper,” he said. “That would alleviate a lot of stress in my life.”
Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes thinks the tests make no sense.
“I need to prove that I’m in shape? Like, I play the most minutes in the league,” he said.
Hughes’ brother, Jack, joked, “They’re gonna find their way around it. There won’t be a skate test, though. It’ll just be a ‘fitness drill’ instead.”
Eberle joked that he’s excited about the elimination of fitness tests but wishes it had happened “10 years ago.”
Shorter training camp, fewer preseason games
In our player poll that ran Wednesday, going to an 84-game season and shortening training camp received positive reviews from 32 of 39 responders.
As Quinn Hughes said, “I train my ass off all the time,” so having a long camp that tires players out “is so archaic to me.”
“Camp just drags on and on and on, and it used to be much longer in the old days,” said a Western Conference forward. “To me, this is the change that every player loved even though it means two more games. But I’d rather play two more games that mean something than exhibition games.”
Playoff salary cap
Adding a salary cap for teams during the playoffs, Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy said, “just makes sense to everybody. Like, you shouldn’t be able to field a roster that’s $20 million over the cap. And I think everybody sort of understood that.”
Added the New York Rangers’ Will Cuylle, “I think it just makes for a more fair, even playing field in the playoffs.”
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman played on a Cup champion that benefited from the LTIR loophole in 2021. He said, “That’s going to be tough for GMs. But on the other hand, you have to follow the rule just like you’ve followed the rules before.”
Post-career health care
Thanks to the hard work of Glenn Healy, the head of the NHL Alumni Association, the NHL and NHLPA established a $4 million fund to ensure post-career health care for players — whether they’ve played one shift or 1,000 games — and their families.
One player was really touched by that.
“There’s so many guys that did so much for the league and the players in the past, and trying to continue to make that a number-one priority moving forward is something that a lot of players feel really good about,” St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas said.
(Top photo of Marty Walsh and Gary Bettman: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
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