As the clock counted down to a unique deadline in the NHL, teams raced to finalize deals before the new collective bargaining agreement took effect at midnight ET on Tuesday. With the new rules limiting player contracts to seven years with their current teams and six years in free agency, the last eight-year contracts were completed just in time.
In a significant move, the Washington Capitals secured Ryan Leonard with an $84 million deal starting from the 2027-28 season. This contract will make Leonard the highest-paid player on the team, matching Alex Tuch, who also signed an eight-year deal after a sign-and-trade with Buffalo. Capitals’ general manager Chris Patrick expressed confidence in Leonard’s potential for growth and praised his dedication to improving his game.
At only 21 years old, Leonard, a winger, is entering his second full NHL season, solidifying his role in the Capitals’ young core alongside players like Ilya and Aliaksei Protas. Another Capitals player, Justin Sourdif, also inked an eight-year extension worth $50.8 million, ensuring his presence in the team’s future plans.
Notably, Ottawa Senators locked up Drake Batherson with an $86 million deal over eight years, marking the most lucrative contract in the team’s history. The NHL has seen a surge in long-term contracts since the new CBA was established in June 2025, with 33 players signing eight-year deals, including standout players like Colorado’s Cale Makar.
The league’s salary cap has experienced significant growth, reaching $104 million this season and projected to rise to $113.5 million by 2027-28. This increase in revenue has led to record-breaking contracts, with players like Vegas center Jack Eichel and Philadelphia’s Leo Carlsson securing lucrative deals.
Eichel, who signed a long-term contract last October, expressed gratitude for his eight-year deal and highlighted the support from his organization and the city. Other notable players like Makar, Kirill Kaprizov, Sam Bennett, and Aaron Ekblad have also solidified their futures with multi-year contracts.
Teams have taken calculated risks on young talents this off-season, such as Buffalo signing Noah Ostlund and Pittsburgh securing Ville Koivunen to long-term contracts. New Jersey also made a strategic move by extending Luke Evangelista’s contract, ensuring financial flexibility by including signing bonuses before the new CBA regulations took effect.
