Why the NHL's New CBA could be a nightmare for the Avalanche's future
Photo credit: The Canadian Press
A recent report explores the ways in which the NHL's recently negotiated CBA might complicate roster decisions, salary cap flexibility, and overall team building for the Colorado Avalanche moving forward.
Some of the new CBA changes we've been talking about all summer are reportedly set to kick in earlier than expected.
NHL's new CBA can spell disaster for the Avalanche.
Trent Finnegan from Denver Sports writes that beginning in the 2026-27 season, the NHL will be adding two extra games to each team's schedule, making the regular season even longer.
As reported before but now the NHL has started to put it together, the regular season will begin in late September for 2026-27 and Cup awarded mid June. Pre-season shortened and regular season extended to 84 games.
The adjustment comes under the NHL's new CBA, ratified in July and set to take effect September 16, 2026. While the CBA includes various updates, from dress codes to closing the LTIR loophole, this will be among the most noticeable changes for fans.
"The NHL season will also kick off much earlier than in the past, with a start date sometime in late September. This would put the league almost an entire month ahead of the NBA and give them no competition on days that the NFL isn't in action early in the calendar.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs would end in mid-June, which is not much different than years past. In the four 'normal' seasons since the NHL schedule returned to normalcy after the two COVID-impacted years, the final game of the playoffs has been played on June 17, June 24, June 13 and June 26. The end date will still be what fans are used to." -Finnegan
The Stanley Cup Playoffs would end in mid-June, which is not much different than years past. In the four 'normal' seasons since the NHL schedule returned to normalcy after the two COVID-impacted years, the final game of the playoffs has been played on June 17, June 24, June 13 and June 26. The end date will still be what fans are used to." -Finnegan
The preseason schedule will shrink to four games instead of the usual six, with the league effectively swapping out two exhibitions contests for two regular season matchups.
What does this mean for the Avalanche?
"The biggest risk factor here is that there are now two more chances for injuries to occur. For a franchise that has been plagued by the injury bug in the three seasons since it won the Stanley Cup, that's not a good sign at all. This change will create more wear and tear on the players, and while it might be more spread out, two more games is two more games, no matter how you try and spin it with added time for rest." -Finnegan
Ultimately, the move is about boosting revenue, giving the NHL and its teams more broadcasting income and ticket sales from two extra regular season games. The change won't take effect this season, but the following one when the new agreement kicks in.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 4 | 9 ANSWERS Why the NHL's New CBA could be a nightmare for the Avalanche's future Do you think the new CBA will impact the Avalanche moving forward? | ||
| yes | 5 | 55.6 % |
| no | 4 | 44.4 % |
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