The current CBA, a 10-year agreement that was ratified in January 2013, expires Sept. 15, 2022. But the NHL and the NHL Players' Association each have the option to file in September 2019 to reopen the CBA. That would trigger the expiration of the CBA on Sept. 15, 2020, if the sides do not agree to an extension before then.
The NHL had until Sept. 1 to provide written notice that it is opting out of the final two years of the CBA. Now that the League has declined its option, the NHLPA has until Sept. 15 to file for early termination of the agreement.
"Based on the current state of the game and the business of the game, the NHL believes it is essential to continue building upon the momentum we have created with our Players and, therefore, will not exercise its option to reopen the CBA," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. "Rather, we are prepared to have the current CBA remain in effect for its full term -- three more seasons through the conclusion of the 2021-22 season. It is our hope that a continued, sustained period of labor peace will enable us to further grow the game and benefit all constituent groups: NHL Players, Clubs, our business partners and, most important, our fans.
"In any CBA, the parties can always identify issues they are unhappy with and would like to see changed. This is certainly true from the League's standpoint. However, our analysis makes clear that the benefits of continuing to operate under the terms of the current CBA -- while working with the Players' Association to address our respective concerns -- far outweigh the disruptive consequences of terminating it following the upcoming season."