2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by getoverit

He would be eligible for a 7 year deal. Changes don’t take alleged til sept 2026 I believe

This is from Frank Seravalli's report on the new CBA:

Player contracts will be term limited to a maximum of seven years for players re-signing with their current club and six years for players on the free agent market. The 2025-26 season (next week’s free agency) will mark the final eight-year deals in the NHL.

Source: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/nh...me-season-ltir

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

This is from Frank Seravalli's report on the new CBA:

Source: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/nh...me-season-ltir

If that's true, then Andersson won't be able to sign an 8-year deal even now because his next contract won't kick in until 2026. However, it looks like Stankoven's new contract is an 8-year deal that starts in 2026, so that information isn't fully correct.


Until the new CBA is ratified and released to the public, we're only guessing what the restrictions will be. I suspect the new contract lengths will take effect on July 1 next year, but players in the final year of their current contracts will be able to sign 8-year deals up until June 30, 2026. Since the new CBA won't technically take effect until mid-September next year, it's possible that will be the date the change takes effect.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by getbak

If that's true, then Andersson won't be able to sign an 8-year deal even now because his next contract won't kick in until 2026. However, it looks like Stankoven's new contract is an 8-year deal that starts in 2026, so that information isn't fully correct.

Wrong. Seravalli specifically said that 2025-26 is the last year for which 8-year contracts will be allowed to take effect.

Until the new CBA is ratified and released to the public, we're only guessing what the restrictions will be. I suspect the new contract lengths will take effect on July 1 next year, but players in the final year of their current contracts will be able to sign 8-year deals up until June 30, 2026. Since the new CBA won't technically take effect until mid-September next year, it's possible that will be the date the change takes effect.

We may be only guessing, but Seravalli (among others) apparently has information directly from either the league or the PA. I strongly surmise that the language of the MOU is such that only those 8-year contracts (or 7 for UFAs) taking effect before the end of the 2025-26 season will be grandfathered in. That's the simplest explanation for the multiple reports I have seen that this summer is the last in which the old UFA rules will apply.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Wrong. Seravalli specifically said that 2025-26 is the last year for which 8-year contracts will be allowed to take effect.

What do you mean, wrong?

Stankoven has signed an 8-year deal that starts in 2026, that's not debatable. It was announced by the Hurricanes: https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/...ract-extension

Eric Tulsky, General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with forward Logan Stankoven on an eight-year, $48 million contract extension, which will begin with the 2026-27 season.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

This is from Frank Seravalli's report on the new CBA:

Source: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/nh...me-season-ltir

Yeah, the final 8 year deals because if they aren’t signed before July 1st, 2026 then they wouldn’t be eligible for an 8 year deal anyways. Andersson will still be able to get 7 next summer.

[SuperMatt18]

It probably means the rules changes as of July 1st 2026.

So if you sign before July 1st 2026 then you have the option of 8 or 7 year deals.

But after July 1 2026 then it will be 7 or 6 year deals.

So if Andersson waits until July 1st 2026 and hits the market as a UFA then his max term is likely 6 years.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

It probably means the rules changes as of July 1st 2026.

So if you sign before July 1st 2026 then you have the option of 8 or 7 year deals.

But after July 1 2026 then it will be 7 or 6 year deals.

So if Andersson waits until July 1st 2026 and hits the market as a UFA then his max term is likely 6 years.

This goes for every player, so if you don't want to sign with your team and want 8 years vs 6, do you ask to be traded. McDavid? Kaprizov?

[calf]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

It probably means the rules changes as of July 1st 2026.

So if you sign before July 1st 2026 then you have the option of 8 or 7 year deals.

But after July 1 2026 then it will be 7 or 6 year deals.

So if Andersson waits until July 1st 2026 and hits the market as a UFA then his max term is likely 6 years.

I'm betting that heading to the TDL, and then post-playoffs, we see a huge flurry of re-signings and sign-and trades as players realize their drop in number of years, even though their AAV will increase with the cap increases.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

This goes for every player, so if you don't want to sign with your team and want 8 years vs 6, do you ask to be traded. McDavid? Kaprizov?

Originally Posted by calf

I'm betting that heading to the TDL, and then post-playoffs, we see a huge flurry of re-signings and sign-and trades as players realize their drop in number of years, even though their AAV will increase with the cap increases.

I think it could be a really interesting deadline as there are a lot of pending UFAs that will be faced with this exact decision. And could lead to a lot of sign and trades before July 1 as well.

McDavid
Kaprizov
Eichel
Connor
Laine
Panarin
Necas
Kempe
Tuch
Schmaltz

Andersson
Matheson
Carlson
Walman
Trouba
Ferraro
Mikkola
Ekholm
Fowler

[Tacoman]

That said, I don't think all of the players in that forward list are going to be looking for max term. We've never had a move in the cap like what we're going to see over the next few years so I believe most of these people will be looking for shorter deals. The exceptions will be players (maybe like Ras) that will be 30ish and looking to maximize their late 30's income.

So many may not care about the 8 vs 6 yr change.

[Enoch Root]

Yup, a shortening of contract terms, at the exact same time as an unprecedented jump in the cap - should make for some very interesting decisions.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by getbak

What do you mean, wrong?

Stankoven has signed an 8-year deal that starts in 2026, that's not debatable. It was announced by the Hurricanes: https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/...ract-extension

OK; apparently I got the fine points wrong. But this is, by numerous reports, the last summer in which contracts can be signed under the old rules. Next summer, even though the old CBA will be technically in effect, there will be no more 8-year deals, and no more 7-year deals for players who have gone to UFA.

[CFO]

A team with lots of prospects and picks that would be a good for for Andersen is the capitals. They have a solid team. Some great upcoming prospects but not one of reasonable age or prospect who is RH D. Carlson is the only guy (while still great) is 35 years old.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Yup, a shortening of contract terms, at the exact same time as an unprecedented jump in the cap - should make for some very interesting decisions.

This was clearly how they sold the idea in the CBA. Cap going up, players won’t be missing money on 6 years. But the 8 years will effectively be one time bonuses.

[Sec214]

[Icon]

George & Wolf would make for a good 1-2 punch.

[Murph]

Pondering an offer?

Longing for something to happen?

[D as in David]

They're getting a whale.

[Enoch Root]

their new backup goalie is a marine biologist

[Knut]

The Sea was Angry!