An 84-game season is coming to the NHL as part of an extension of the collective bargaining agreement, which could be announced as soon as Friday before the first round of the draft.

The potential change that could go into effect as soon as 2026-27 would reduce the preseason to four games per team.

Should the parties agree to add two games to the schedule, it would mark a return to the 84-game setup that lasted briefly from 1992 to 1994. Under that format, each team added two neutral-site games to its annual slate.