NHL Reportedly Moving Back To ESPN For Massive New Deal

The NHL has a history of being played on ESPN. However, in recent years, it has been NBC who has taken over the bulk of the national coverage for NHL games.

Now, it appears that the NHL will be moving back to ESPN.

According to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, the NHL is close to inking a seven year deal with ESPN for the rights to the league from 2022-28. This would include nationally broadcasted games as well as four Stanley Cup Championships.

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Sources: ESPN is signing a seven-year deal with the NHL as part of the league's new U.S. media rights package.https://t.co/R7VeixXYq7

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 9, 2021

Per Sportsnet:

ESPN is believed to have reached a seven-year deal to become one of the league’s media partners starting next season, according to multiple league and industry sources.

There was no confirmation from the NHL on an agreement that is expected to see ESPN get the rights to broadcast four Stanley Cup Finals between 2022 and 2028, plus streaming rights for Disney.

Financial terms of the deal weren’t immediately available, nor was it clear which other media company would split the package with ESPN.

NBC currently pays $200 million annually for exclusive U.S. media rights that expire after this season.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the broadcast team of Eddie Olczyk and Doc Emrick (even though he retired after last season) I think it would be great for the game to move back to ESPN. If ESPN broadcasts NHL games, the sport will undoubtedly get more exposure. ESPN is much more popular than NBC Sports, and the NHL would get more air time on all of the channel’s programming as well.

It would be bittersweet to see the NHL move on from NBC Sports, but I’m convinced it would be a good thing for the game of hockey.

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