Breaking: NHL has made its decision on the current CBA

According to many insiders including TSN's Darren Dreger and Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the NHL is set to announce its intent to decline its option to reopen the current collective bargaining agreement.

As expected NHL will announce soon it won’t re-open the CBA. The NHLPA now has the same option to be decided by Sept 15.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) August 30, 2019

The NHL has formally notified the NHLPA that it will not re-open the CBA. Deadline to do so was this weekend. The player window to re-open runs through Sept. 15.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) August 30, 2019

The players' executive committee -- and others who wish to attend -- meets Wednesday in Chicago. There is believed to be momentum in talks. It is possible that if a deal cannot be done by the 15th, both sides will agree to move the NHLPA's deadline to later date
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) August 30, 2019

It has been reported that the NHLPA Executive Board and additional players are set to meet Wednesday in Chicago to discuss whether their side wants to opt out for 2020.

While the NHL has made its decision, the Players’ Association has until Sept. 15 to make a decision. If they opt to reopen negotiations before the deadline, it will terminate the current CBA and potentially cause a work stoppage in September 2020. If they decline, the agreement runs through the 2020-21 season.

The current CBA was put in place in 2013 after a lengthy dispute between the two parties shortened that season to just 48 games.

The NHL and NHLPA also failed to come to terms on an agreement in 2004-05, which wiped out the entire campaign in a year-long lockout.

Let’s hope it does not come to this again…