A Look at the U.S. National TV Coverage for NHL Teams in the 2024-25 Season

With the 2024-25 NHL season on the horizon, this was originally set to be my first hockey story in preparation for that year. A couple of days ago, I was on Instagram and found a post from Daily Faceoff, a site that discusses hockey, and I saw a pic that detailed the number of national TV games in the U.S. for each of the NHL's 32 clubs. In any league, it is always an honor to be on national TV. Of course, the NFL is the only one of the main leagues who doesn't do the regional sports network (RSN) thing, instead using regional coverage for early and late games on Sundays. MLB, the NHL, and the NBA do use RSNs, and they do save national coverage for select days.

Here's what constitutes national TV coverage in America. A national TV spot in America includes games on Turner's networks (TNT, TBS, TruTV, though usually TNT), ESPN/ABC, and ESPN+ games under their "Hockey Night" banner. Now all NHL games air on ESPN+ (except for games taken by NHL Network), but what I mean is ESPN+ games that actually use ESPN's graphics and doesn't borrow from any feeds from the U.S. or Canada. Those select games are under the "Hockey Night" banner and they do not even air on any RSNs.

So without further ado, let's look at the haves and the have nots regarding national telecasts in the U.S., shall we?

Selfishly, I'm so happy about this. The Colorado Avalanche have 17 games on national TV this upcoming season. That is tied for the most with two other teams: the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Edmonton Oilers. It makes sense that these three teams would get a lot of the coverage; the Avs have Hart Trophy winner Nathan Mackinnon, who is now wearing his age on his jersey--today is his 29th birthday. Plus, the Avs are a couple of years removed from winning the Cup, and are a perennial threat to win another one, so there's that.

The Penguins, of course, have Sidney Crosby--a first ballot Hall of Famer who has won so much. Plus, they nearly reached the playoffs last year, so there's that. The Oilers? Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the fact that they almost won the Cup last year. So basically, it's three of the biggest superstars in the league getting a lot of national TV coverage here in America.

One slight con I have to point out: the next highest number featured in that main photo is 15. Four teams have 15 national TV games in America. One of them is the New York Rangers, which makes sense. One, they're a powerhouse, two, they reached the Final Four, and three, it's New York City. What I want to discuss is the three teams the Rangers share that with: the Chicago Blackhawks, the Detroit Red Wings, and the Minnesota Wild, and no, this isn't a rebooted Norris Division reunion.

Now here's the thing. I understand the Wings getting that much coverage. The team's on a slow rise, they missed the playoffs by a literal hair, and many say that they'll end their current playoff drought this upcoming season. Regarding the Blackhawks, we know what this is. Connor Bedard. The team stinks to high heaven, but they have the hottest young superstar in the league in Bedard, who is coming off winning the Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year). So national TV networks will continue to ride this thing until the wheels fall off. But even that, I understand. I do not understand the Wild getting that many games on national TV. Yes, they have Kirill Kaprizov, but he's not the big young star anymore--at least in the eyes of the networks. Plus, the Wild are in hockey hell and they're not getting out for years. At least the Blackhawks have a years-long plan. The Wild just suck.

So how many times will the reigning, defending, undisputed Stanley Cup Champions be on national TV in the U.S.? A full dozen. The Florida Panthers will have 12 games on national TV, beginning with their first game of the season--their home opener against the Boston Bruins on October 8. That night, of course, will see the Panthers' first Stanley Cup Championship banner raised, and that's always an amazing moment in any sport. However, what I find concerning is the fact that 14 teams--almost half of the league--has more national TV games than the defending champs. A number of those teams didn't even make the playoffs; I mentioned the Wild, Hawks, and Wings. The New Jersey Devils have 13 games on national TV. The Philadelphia Flyers have 14. The Washington Capitals, who were badly swept out of the first round, have 13, but that I can understand. After all, Alex Ovechkin's on the verge of history--needing only 42 goals to surpass The Great One.

Here's where the scrutiny from me comes in. When I looked at the smaller numbers, I couldn't help but notice something. The Toronto Maple Leafs, a perennial playoff team who has one of the best goal scorers in the league, only have nine national TV games here in America. That's the same amount as the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Buffalo Sabres. Oh, and the Vancouver Canucks, who almost made the Conference Finals last year? Only five such games. The Utah Hockey Club (7) and the San Jose Sharks (6) have more than Vancouver. That is absolutely insulting!

But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Four teams do not have a national TV game at all here in America. And they are:

I sense a theme here. You know, for years, I've been told by Canadian NHL fans that America's TV coverage doesn't respect Canadian teams, and boy, does this prove that claim to be true. While the Oilers received 17 games on national TV here in the States, the Leafs get only 9, while the Canucks get 5. The four teams with none? The Calgary Flames, the Montréal Canadiens, the Ottawa Senators, and the Winnipeg Jets. Out of those four teams, only the Flames don't really have a draw. The Canadiens are struggling, but they are still quite entertaining. The Senators have Brady Tkachuk, who is a solid star, but the biggest insult is the Jets.

The Jets are not only a strong team, they were in the playoffs last year! Don't give me, "They were trounced last year." It was the Avalanche and at least they won a game. The Caps didn't. You know how insulting this is? The Jets have no national TV games in America, yet the Anaheim Ducks and the Columbus Blue Jackets do. The Ducks have four and the Jackets have just one.

So that's that in a nutshell. That's how the national TV coverage in America will be distributed in the 2024-25 NHL season. Similar to other leagues, the NHL has its haves and have nots; those who live in that spotlight, and those who can't seem to get a smidgen of it. Is it unfair? It can be. Some teams deserve more of the spotlight than they are receiving, while others shouldn't get so much of it. Such is life in the National Hockey League, among other leagues.