The two sides agreed to the new CBA in late June, ahead of the NHL draft in Los Angeles. NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh said last month that the players preferred a shorter term because the NHL is always evolving. "We had some players that came into this league under the last agreement and retired from the league under the last agreement," Walsh said. The CBA talks between the owners and players were the smoothest of Bettman's tenure as commissioner, which began in 1993. "This CBA shows what can be accomplished when the NHL and the union work together -- an agreement that will allow for the continued worldwide growth of the game," Walsh added.