NHL Teams Race for Eight-Year Deals as CBA Deadline Looms

NHL NHL Teams Race for Eight-Year Deals as CBA Deadline Looms

By Ben Gale

September 15, 2026 • 3:03 PM EDT

Updated 1 hours ago

NHL Teams Race for Eight-Year Deals as CBA Deadline Looms

The NHL is no stranger to contract chaos, but this week’s dash to lock up players before the collective bargaining agreement flips the rules has brought a frenzy unlike anything we’ve seen in years. With a midnight deadline looming, teams have raced to sign cornerstone players to eight-year contracts. Why so urgent? As soon as the clock strikes, the new CBA restricts teams to just seven years for re-signings and six in free agency. So, every extra year that gets penned today is one more season a top talent stays locked in, and that matters both for roster stability and your future bets.

Let’s talk numbers. These aren’t just routine extensions; they’re record-breakers. Drake Batherson set a new bar for Ottawa, while Ryan Leonard ties with Alex Tuch as the Capitals’ top earners. With the salary cap climbing and a sudden squeeze on contract length coming, front offices are essentially “buying time” with their stars—betting that extra year now keeps fan favorites in the lineup deep into the next decade. This urgency all comes back to the new CBA rules: starting at midnight, teams simply can’t offer eight years anymore, making these deals a disappearing commodity.

According to Yahoo Sports, the last day before the CBA change saw a flurry of activity as teams prioritized locking down key assets and rising stars ahead of the rule switch. It’s as much about optics and roster confidence as it is about the salary cap.

Let’s break down some of the key moves and what they signal for NHL futures markets.

High Stakes, High Salaries – Leonard and Batherson Cash In

Ryan Leonard’s new $84 million deal with Washington kicks in for the 2027-28 season, making him (alongside Alex Tuch, via an eight-year sign-and-trade from Buffalo) the joint highest-paid Capital at $10.5 million per year. Washington’s management isn’t shy about why: “Ryan is a young and talented player who is still years away from entering his prime…we believe this agreement provides him with the opportunity to grow and develop within our organization, while giving us the ability to keep a talented young player in our lineup for years to come,” general manager Chris Patrick said. Leonard, just 21, is now the poster boy for the Capitals’ post-Ovechkin era.

Ottawa set off its own fireworks by inking Drake Batherson to an $86 million deal—the richest in team history. That beats Tim Stützle’s previous record and cements Batherson as a centerpiece: he’ll count $10.75 million against the cap when his extension starts in 2027. According to Ottawa GM Steve Staios, “He was drafted and developed by our organization and has shown a commitment to wanting to be in Ottawa long term. We view him as a key part of our core group.” Batherson just finished a seventh consecutive career-high season in points, a feat matched only once before in NHL history. If you’re betting on Ottawa’s future, that’s a clear signal of intent.

Record Cap Increases Push Salaries Skyward

It’s not just the new CBA that’s turning the market upside down. A series of historic salary cap jumps—$95.5 million to $104 million this year, and forecasted for $113.5 million in 2027-28—has emboldened teams to shell out more, and has players keen to lock in lifetime value before free agency gets tighter. Since the CBA agreement last June, 33 players have secured eight-year deals, with Cale Makar setting the all-time record at $163.2 million.

The big swing in offer sheets also sparked a salary arms race: Philadelphia’s bid for Anaheim’s Leo Carlsson at an eye-popping $18 million annually (which Anaheim matched) sent ripple effects through the market, altering contract expectations across the board.

Veterans Take the Security, Teams Gamble on Potential

For established stars, eight-year deals are easy calls—the Jack Eichels of the league know exactly what they bring to the table, and so do their teams. Eichel, who signed for $13.5 million per season, summed it up best: “It’s an incredible deal for me and my family, and we’re super grateful for the organization and the city believing in us. There’s no signer’s remorse. Yeah, I’m a happy guy.” Proven players like Cale Makar, Kirill Kaprizov, Sam Bennett, and Aaron Ekblad are the safe bets in these mega-extensions.

The real risk comes with unproven talent. Just this week, Buffalo bet $52.8 million over eight years on 22-year-old Noah Ostlund, a player with only 71 games under his belt. Pittsburgh did something similar with Ville Koivunen, locking in a player with just 14 points across 42 games for $32 million over eight years. Teams are banking on being right early, which means some contracts will look like bargains—and others, well, not so much. For bettors looking for long shots or breakout candidates, these signings are worth tracking.

Key developments

Deadline for eight-year deals forces teams into last-minute signings
Washington makes Ryan Leonard highest-paid alongside Alex Tuch
Ottawa gives Drake Batherson record-setting contract
NHL salary cap surges, fueling larger deal sizes
Philadelphia’s offer sheet to Leo Carlsson triggers contract inflation
Younger, less proven players still receive long-term deals as teams bet on upside

Key takeaways for bettors

The CBA restricts future contract length, raising the value and rarity of today’s eight-year deals
Star players like Batherson and Leonard are now franchise centerpieces, offering roster stability
Salary cap jumps are increasing both contract size and players’ leverage—watch for salary trends in future seasons
Teams are willing to risk big on younger talent; those bets could pay off or blow up—be selective
Offer sheets (like Carlsson’s) impact the whole salary landscape, shifting future contract norms
Players signing on the eve of the CBA change are likely locked in for prime years—use that in long-range prop bets and futures
Eyes should stay on teams making big moves now, as their cap strategies and bettable windows shift fast

More coverage: NHL news coverage, NHL analysis and odds and today’s NHL picks.

Frequently Asked Questions

The new collective bargaining agreement limits re-signings to seven years and free-agent contracts to six. Teams are rushing to get eight-year deals finalized before the rule takes effect at midnight.

Drake Batherson signed an $86 million deal with the Senators, making it the most lucrative contract in team history. He’ll count $10.75 million against the salary cap starting in 2027.

The Capitals locked up Ryan Leonard for $84 million beginning in the 2027-28 season. His $10.5 million annual average matches Alex Tuch for the team’s highest-paid status.

The NHL salary cap is rising quickly, from $95.5 million to $104 million this season and to $113.5 million in 2027-28. Higher caps give teams more payroll flexibility, boosting contract sizes.

Buffalo extended Noah Ostlund for $52.8 million over eight years, even though he’s played just 71 NHL games. Pittsburgh signed Ville Koivunen for $32 million over eight years despite limited NHL experience.

Philadelphia’s offer sheet for Leo Carlsson, matched by Anaheim at $18 million a year, triggered a spike in player salaries and set the tone for the summer’s contract frenzy.

Yes, locking key players into long-term deals stabilizes team rosters, improves predictability, and can influence both futures odds and fan confidence in franchise direction.