TSN reported suggests NHL players are preparing for a lockout in 2026

The National Hockey Leagues current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is set to expire after the 2025-26 regular season.

Since the 2012-13 season was shortened due to the lockout, the league has had a relatively peaceful working environment, but early indications from Travis Yost of ESPN, suggest the NHL/NHLPA might need to gear up for a intense round of negotiations.

Thankfully thought players will be well prepared this time, as many have signing bonuses. Which has led to a common understanding that contracts with high signing bonuses are essentially buyout-proof.

Another advantage that players have with signing bonuses are that they are usually paid out during the off-season, players get paid before any CBA related disruptions to the regular season.

If the season is delayed for any reasons, player's salaries are effectively put on hold but most won't be affected financially as they had just been paid their bonuses before the lockout. So every player with a major signing bonus is one less player who should feel the strain of a lockout.

Obviously everyone is hoping a lockout won't happen, especially like the one back in 04 where it wiped out the entire season.