National Hockey League players have overwhelmingly accepted...

National Hockey League players have overwhelmingly accepted a new collective bargaining agreement, according to Alan Eagleson, executive director of the NHL Players Assn.

The contract was approved earlier by the 21 NHL owners and is effective immediately.

The contract greatly improves pension benefits for players and gives more freedom to veterans looking to sign with the team of their choice, but the association was unable to negotiate total free agency.

For the owners, the new contract includes two measures that will increase revenue, as well as the length of the NHL season--longer training camps, which means more exhibition games, and an expanded playoff format for first-round series, from five to seven games.

A drug-testing plan was not included in the agreement.