2. What is the CBA?

The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is the agreement between the NHL and the NHL Players Association (NHLPA) which outlines rules for the NHL, including the rules related to the Salary Cap.  

The current full CBA can be found here: 

https://www.nhlpa.com/the-pa/cba

If the CBA expires, there cannot be a season, which is what led to lockouts in 2004-2005 and 2012-2013.  

The current CBA was signed in 2012 for a term of 10 years, meaning it expires after the 2021-2022 season.  However, on September 1, 2019, the NHL can opt out of the current agreement.  If the NHL does not opt out, the NHLPA can opt out on September 19, 2019.  If either party opts out, the CBA will expire following the 2019-2020 season.  This means that there could be a lockout for either the 2020-2021 season, or the 2022-2023 season.