NHLPA opts not to re-open the CBA

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The National Hockey League Players' Association announced on Monday that it has decided not to re-open the league's collective bargaining agreement.

In a statement released by NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr, he says: 

"While players have concerns with the current CBA, we agree with the League that working together to address those concerns is the preferred course of action instead of terminating the agreement following this season."
"We have been having discussions with the League about an extension of the CBA and expect that those talks will continue."

If the NHLPA had decided to re-open the CBA, the agreement between the NHL and its Players' Association would have expired on September 15, 2020. However, the current CBA will not officially expire until September 15, 2022.

Here is the statement released by the NHL and Commissioner Gary Bettman:

"We are pleased with the NHL Players' Association's decision not to reopen the Collective Bargaining Agreement."
"We look forward to continuing to work with the NHLPA for the benefit of all stakeholders, especially our fans."

Since the NHL had opted not to re-open the CBA back on September 1, the league and the NHLPA have been meeting to discuss league plans moving forward, as well as the possibility of extending the current CBA.

The NHL has experienced three work stoppages in the past 25 years, which included the loss of the entire 2004-05 season. The league also lost games at the start of both the 1994-95 season, as well as the 2012-13 season.