• Loading stock data...
Sunday, February 9, 2025

NHL’s National TV Broadcast Schedule Centers Star-Stacked Teams

  • The Oilers, Penguins, and Avalanche secure the top spots, with 17 games each.
  • Networks are blanking other Canadian teams.
Jun 18, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) celebrates scoring during the second period against the Florida Panthers in game five of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena.
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Connor McDavid may have just missed last season’s Stanley Cup glory, but his Oilers will be in the national spotlight regardless. Alongside the Penguins and Avalanche, Edmonton tops the list of teams with U.S. nationally televised games for the 2024–2025 NHL season. 

The trio will each make 17 appearances across TNT Networks, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN+. (With nearly 25 million subscribers, the latter’s wide distribution returns bigger viewership numbers than any individual cable or satellite provider—yet another indication of the increasingly blurred line between linear and streaming.)

Next in line are the major-market 2024 Presidents’ Trophy–winning Rangers and Connor Bedard–led Blackhawks as well as Minnesota: They’ll each appear on 15 national broadcasts. In their first season, the Utah Hockey Club will get seven national spots.

The Oilers, Penguins, and Avalanche had varying degrees of success last season—Pittsburgh sat out the playoffs despite a strong regular-season final stretch—but each have star-studded rosters. McDavid, the reigning Conn Smythe winner and three-time Most Valuable Player colloquially known as “McJesus,” is the sport’s biggest celebrity, but Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar also have plenty of national interest. And there is, of course, Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby, going on his 20th season.

In short, national audiences should be hungry to watch these teams play—and networks are rewarding them.

The Blue Jackets have only one national broadcast: the 2025 NHL Stadium Series outdoor matchup against the Red Wings. And fully blanked on the U.S. national stage are the Flames, Senators, and Jets. Winnipeg has arguably the most precarious position in the league, with anemic ticket sales and constant relocation rumors kicking up each season. (In February, commissioner Gary Bettman reiterated his commitment to keeping the Jets in Winnipeg.) 

The exclusion of these three Canadian franchises is no shock, given their lack of star power or market heft. But the Oilers’ big scheduling win makes a statement for the U.S.’s neighbors to the north: Despite the exclusion of non-U.S. media markets from Nielsen numbers, networks are betting on Canadian hockey to pay dividends.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

exclusive

5 Big Sound Bites From Radio Row at Super Bowl LIX

Straight shooting from Greg Olsen, Billie Jean King, and more.
Brady and Mahomes

Chiefs Fatigue Is Real. It’s Nowhere Near Patriots Hate Yet

People who have covered both teams say the difference is stark.
Donald Trump

Trump Threatens to Eliminate Tax Breaks for Sports Owners

Amortization and other strategies have saved sports owners millions.

Featured Today

Nov 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) celebrates with running back Saquon Barkley (26) after the Eagles defeat the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at SoFi Stadium.

How the Eagles Reinvented Championship Roster Construction

Philadelphia is one of the most innovative franchises in the NFL.
February 3, 2025

‘Ultimate Throwback’: The Unimpeachable Cool of Hartford Whalers Gear

Nostalgia and street cred have driven a consistent frenzy for merch.
January 20, 2024; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Kristin Juszczyk, wife of San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk (44), before a 2024 NFC divisional round game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium.
February 1, 2025

The New WAGs: Sports Wives Building Business Empires

Athletes’ wives and girlfriends are bucking stereotypes and cashing in.
Feb 3, 2019; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears mascot dances on the court during a stoppage in play in the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at Haas Pavilion.
January 31, 2025

The Toll of Bicoastal Travel on New ACC Members Cal and Stanford

Cal and Stanford face missed flights, chaotic sleep schedules, and academic demands.

ESPN Faces Potential Exit from MLB Media Rights As Opt-Out Looms

A 35-year rights relationship now faces a very different media landscape.
February 7, 2025

How Much Longer Can Fox Sports Keep the Top-Rated Pregame Crew Together?

The three have been at Fox NFL Sunday since 1994.
Nov 23, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Mercedes AMG Petronas driver Lewis Hamilton (44) leads Oracle Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) during the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Circuit.
February 7, 2025

Netflix Exploring Bid for Formula One Rights in U.S. Starting 2026

ESPN holds the rights to F1 through 2025.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
February 6, 2025

NFL Exec: We’re Reaching More Fans Without Spreading Too Thin

NFL media executive Brian Rolapp is bullish on the evolution of streaming.
Stephen A. Smith
exclusive
February 5, 2025

Stephen A. Smith Says Deal to Return to ESPN Coming ‘Very, Very..

Smith’s old contract was set to expire this summer.
Dec 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; FOX broadcaster and former NFL quarterback Tom Brady looks on before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.
February 5, 2025

Tom Brady Cagey About Scope of Role With Raiders

Brady was approved as a minority owner in the Raiders in October.
February 5, 2025

Disney Earnings Highlight ESPN Comeback; Iger High on NBA’s Future

Revenues and operating income grow at the ESPN parent company.