NHL officially considering changes to preseason and regular season game formats
A new report from NHL insider Pierre LeBrun has revealed that the NHL is considering major changes to the NHL season in future seasons.
The preseason in the NHL has faced a lot of criticism and backlash ahead of the 2024-25 season. Incidents involving players getting injured and being targeted by AHL-level players. The injury to Patrik Laine is the biggest example of this throughout this preseason.
The NHL has undergone several changes over the last several seasons including the addition of 2 expansion franchises. Recently a new report has come out from Pierre LeBrun that the NHL could make another huge change and look to cut down on preseason games and potentially add regular season games.
Fans have been frustrated with the amount of preseason games already in 2024-25 with several more days of meaningless games to go. Even taking away 2 preseason games gives franchises plenty of time to see young players and allow fringe roster players to earn their spot in the NHL. In addition, it cuts down on the number of opportunities for star players to get hurt and lose out on their season.
New Collective Bargaining Agreement could entirely change the NHL
The NHL and NHLPA are set to begin discussing a new collective bargaining agreement with the current one expiring in September of 2026. The two sides have just under 2 years to get all of the major issues ironed out. With so many star injuries taking place during training camp and preseason this year lessening the number of meaningless games will surely be on the list.
Beyond that look for more expansion talks to be discussed during the CBA meeting. The issue of long-term injured reserve also has been a hot button issue throughout the last 5 years or so. Finally, the free agency process could be changed this time around. The NHL has one of the most restrictive processes when it comes to allowing players the freedom to choose a destination at a young age. If the players have leverage heading into talks they could ask for the restricted free agency criteria to be majorly overhauled.
With this process essentially 2 years away from getting underway plenty of things could still change. If the preseason ends up being a mess again next year it will likely be a major point of contention for the bargaining talks. Hopefully, this time around the NHL and NHLPA can find common ground and avoid a lockout unlike several previous years of negotiations.
