{
  "id": 7593364,
  "title": "NHL Teams Scramble to Lock In 8-Year Deals Before New CBA Kicks In",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/nhl-teams-scramble-to-lock-in-8-year-deals-before-new-cba-kicks-in",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-15T16:46:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Front Office Sports",
    "slug": "front-office-sports",
    "url": "https://frontofficesports.com/article/nhl-teams-scramble-to-lock-in-8-year-deals-before-new-cba-kicks-in/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As the NHL's new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) kicks in at midnight on September 16, hockey teams are rushing to secure long-term contracts for their players. The new CBA stipulates that players can only sign seven-year deals with their current teams and six-year deals with new teams, which is one year shorter than previous rules. Teams have been diligently working to ink agreements before the deadline approaches.\n\nOn Tuesday morning, three players signed eight-year contracts with their respective teams. Ryan Leonard, a 21-year-old winger for the Capitals, Drake Batherson, a 28-year-old winger for the Senators, and Noah Östlund, a 22-year-old center for the Sabres, all began their new contracts from the 2027-28 season.\n\nA significant deal, worth $163.2 million ($20.4 million annually) and hailed as the richest in NHL history, was recently announced for Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, who signed an eight-year contract extension. The rising salary cap due to the new CBA has become a boon for emerging stars who seek guaranteed paydays through long-term deals.\n\nWith the deadline fast approaching, teams are still trying to finalize deals for a few players, including Minnesota Wild's Quinn Hughes, Anaheim Ducks' Cutter Gauthier, Columbus Blue Jackets' Adam Fantilli, and San Jose Sharks' Will Smith. Younger players like Sharks star Macklin Celebrini have recently signed shorter agreements. The new NHL CBA, set to commence with the opening of training camps tomorrow, brings further changes such as an extended season of 84 games, a shorter preseason, a playoff salary cap, elimination of deferred compensation, and the removal of the league's dress code.",
  "summary": "Teams are pushing to sign players to max-length contracts before terms drop.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}