New reports suggest NHL and Gary Bettman are bracing for another lockout
NHL players have been ensuring they get signing bonuses to their contract which hits an all-time high for the 2026 season, in the event of a possible lockout.
Signing bonuses have become an increasingly common feature in NHL player contracts, primarily as a safeguard against potential lockouts. These bonuses ensure that players receive a portion of their salary upfront, even if a lockout cancels the regular season. During a lockout, players typically do not receive their regular salaries. However, signing bonuses, which are paid at the beginning of a contract year, are guaranteed regardless of whether the games are played or not.
The 2004-2005 and 2012-2013 seasons went through lockouts, which led to significant losses for players. In response, agents and players have pushed for contracts that include substantial signing bonuses as a way to mitigate the financial risks associated with potential labor disputes, which we can see hit an all-time high at the start of the 2025-26 season, just as the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires.
From a team's perspective, offering signing bonuses can be a way to attract top talent, as clearly players enjoy receiving a huge chunk of money upfront, while also managing the cap hit more flexibly. Although these bonuses are fully counted against the salary cap, teams can structure player contracts in a way that balances the way they have to pay out their money.
Do NHL players know a lockout is coming, which is why such a high percentage of them secured signing bonuses for the start of the 2025-26 season, or is it purely coincidental? Only time will tell, but fans are praying they don't have to sit through another year without hockey.
Source: TSN
NHL players preparing for labour uncertainty with lockout-protected contracts
| POLL | ||
AOÛT 26 | 108 ANSWERS New reports suggest NHL and Gary Bettman are bracing for another lockout Do you think players have inside info that an NHL lockout is coming? | ||
| Yes | 70 | 64.8 % |
| No | 38 | 35.2 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Taylor Hall | 3 | - | 3 | |
| Brayden Point | 3 | - | 3 | |
| Brock Nelson | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Bryan Rust | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Pavel Zacha | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Quinn Hughes | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Carter Verhaeghe | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Erik Karlsson | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Elias Lindholm | - | 3 | 3 | |
| David Pastrnak | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Tim Stutzle | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Adam Gaudette | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Dylan Holloway | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Brad Marchand | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Aleksander Barkov | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Sam Bennett | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Sean Couturier | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Alex DeBrincat | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jack Drury | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Cutter Gauthier | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 23 | 18 | 5 | - | 36 | |
Hurricanes | 22 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 33 | |
Wild | 22 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 32 | |
Devils | 25 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 32 | |
Capitals | 22 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 31 | |
Golden Knights | 23 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 31 | |
Maple Leafs | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 28 | |
Flames | 23 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 28 | |
Panthers | 23 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 27 | |
Kings | 23 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 27 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||