2. What is the CBA?

The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is the agreement between the NHL and the NHL Players Association (NHLPA) which outlines rules for the NHL, including the rules related to the Salary Cap and player contracts.  

The current full CBA can be found here: 

https://www.nhlpa.com/the-pa/cba

If the CBA expires, there cannot be an NHL season, which is what led to lockouts in 2004-2005 and 2012-2013.  

The current CBA was signed in 2012 for a term of 10 years, and was set to expire after the 2021-2022 season.  The NHLPA and NHL ratified a four-year extension to the CBA (through 2025-26) and a post-pandemic Return to Play Plan, on July 10, 2020.