NHL announces major change and the regular season start time is officially changed

The NHL and the Players' Association agreed on the terms of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement earlier this summer that will enter into effect on September 16, 2026, and will expire in 2030.

The CBA signed in 2020 will run through the 2025-26 season, but as soon as the 2026 season starts, big changes will hit the League.

Pierre LeBrun recently confirmed one of the biggest changes that will go down.

On X, the insider stated that, as it was announced when the CBA extension was signed, the 2026-27 season will start in late September. The pre-season will be limited to four games, and the regular calendar will feature 84 games.

The Stanley Cup will be awarded around mid-June.

Read his full statement here:

Here, the biggest takeaway is the shorter preseasons and longer regular seasons.

Over the past years, players and fans have been calling out the League for having too long offseasons, and the new schedule fixes that issue.

With four games in the preseason, stars are able to get some reps without risking injuries too much, and prospects still have time to show what they can bring to the table.

The CBA also included several other interesting changes: there will be a salary cap during the playoffs, there will be no more player dress code, the League's minimum wage will rise, the maximum contract length will go from eight to seven years, there will be no more "paper transactions," the NHL will be able to take part in the 2030 Olympic Games, and players entering the League after the 2025-26 season will have to wear neck guards.

Stay tuned for more.