The NHL’s latest collective bargaining agreement introduces a significant change for veteran players, limiting those with 100-plus career games to just two preseason appearances per team. The move aims to reduce wear and tear while ensuring fresh legs for the regular season, though it could reshape preseason dynamics. Teams will now have to balance experience with stamina in their early-season preparations. The rule marks another shift in how the league manages player workloads ahead of the campaign.

With the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement, veterans who have played 100 or more NHL games will play in no more than two of the four preseason games for each team. The new rule sent another ...