Two people familiar with negotiations tell The Associated Press the NHL and NHL Players' Association are close to an agreement on a four-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement.

According to Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, the NHL and NHL Players' Association agreed to the key framework for a new collective bargaining agreement, including an 84-game schedule starting in 2026-27 and new contractual rules.

The NHL and NHLPA are in the final stages of agreeing to a four-year extension of the CBA through September 2030, sources confirmed to ESPN.