NHL back to ESPN? CBC says yes...

[South Dakota wings fan 7]

Doesn't matter to me what station hockey is played on. It could be on the Home Shopping Network for all I care, just be on somewhere.

I like the NHL on Versus, I'd like it back on ESPN.

I just want to watch the sport.

I really like the idea of Vs. and ESPN having rights to show games on different days like ESPN has with TNT and the NBA. Let's say the money wasn't that great in the short-term for the league, it would be better in the long-term for growing the sport and with the cross-promotion. Would either network go for this? TNT wasn't going anywhere before the latest NBA contract, but would ESPN rather see Versus disappear than help it by sharing rights to the NHL?

The other possibly bad part about a move back to ESPN is that NBC might bail due to ESPN being owned by Disney, who owns ABC. I don't see ABC taking cup finals or playoff games due to NBA obligations/schedule, so they league would lose the "free" over the air broadcast for it best product at the end of the year.

All in all, it would probably be best.

[kylee 727]

If the league wanted to do us a favor they'd expand CBC and TSN throughout the U.S (i.e. including California).

that would be so amazing. the little bit of TSN ive seen has been awesome.

and could you imagine the guy who does the NHL for ESPN commenting on games? dude's a tool; worse than melrose

[Dabura 12,232]

Gary Bettman has made all of three or four smart moves as commissioner. Moving the league to Versus is one of them.

ESPN shafted the NHL like no one's business. That's because hockey is a bastard sport in the States. That much hasn't changed since the lockout, so I see no incentive for ESPN to court the league or promise fairer treatment. The league would have to come crawling back to ESPN, not the other way around -- and I don't see that happening any time soon. And I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.

[2probert4 8]

that would be so amazing. the little bit of TSN ive seen has been awesome.

and could you imagine the guy who does the NHL for ESPN commenting on games? dude's a tool; worse than melrose

That would be Matthew Barnaby.....ESPN has to continue to force feed people the NBA, which is saturated amongst the USA with the coverage that they along with TNT have, and wait until ABC starts with their Sunday afternoon games......

[ManLuv4Clears 7]

They hardly covered hockey when they DID have it. It's considered some obscure sport meant to headline one of their ESPN # networks and won't merit much more attention than it already has. It'll still be all baseball and football during their offseasons even.

Supply and demand sir. People have to get their NHL homer glasses off and realize the sport IS NOT a premier sport in America. I love the game like everyone else on these boards but we are in the minority. The NFL, NBA, MLBA, NCAA Basketball and Football, and NASCAR all have more of a demand than the NHL, hence you can't blame ESPN for showing highlights and headlines of what the public wants..... still the point I'm making is: less coverage on ESPN than other sports > than anything Versus can offer.

[vladdy16 2,154]

Supply and demand sir. People have to get their NHL homer glasses off and realize the sport IS NOT a premier sport in America. I love the game like everyone else on these boards but we are in the minority. The NFL, NBA, MLBA, NCAA Basketball and Football, and NASCAR all have more of a demand than the NHL, hence you can't blame ESPN for showing highlights and headlines of what the public wants..... still the point I'm making is: less coverage on ESPN than other sports > than anything Versus can offer.

No, you can't blame ESPN for the low amount of coverage, really, but what you CAN blame them for is the constant denigrating of the sport. The lame jokes about how obsure or unimportant hockey is only serves to reinforce the red-headed stepchild status of hockey in the US. If you're going to cover the sport, do so in a professional manner. Don't make it into a joke.

[ManLuv4Clears 7]

No, you can't blame ESPN for the low amount of coverage, really, but what you CAN blame them for is the constant denigrating of the sport. The lame jokes about how obsure or unimportant hockey is only serves to reinforce the red-headed stepchild status of hockey in the US. If you're going to cover the sport, do so in a professional manner. Don't make it into a joke.

If they have new TV contract with the NHL this will stop. It would be stupid of them to degrade a sport they have a contractual agreement with, but until this happens they have no reason to do any type of promotion of the NHL if the demand is not there.

[AtomicPunk 296]

Do you think NASCAR would be popular if it was on some low-level cable channel every weekend?

It is on a major network, promoted well, has a REGULAR SCHEDULE, the drivers do all they can to promote it, as the NHL players should do too.

The thing is, the NHL needs EXPOSURE. People joke about its lack of popularity because they don't SEE it. They can't be thrown on every once-in-a-while, middle of the night on some third tier channel. It needs to be taken seriously and promoted like an event. Think about what we know about hockey in Canada. Hockey Night in Canada. When is it? Saturday night. What time does it start? 7pm.

If ESPN carries hockey, then they will devote Sportscenter time to it, show the highlights, promote the broadcasts, etc. But I would like them to make a Hockey Night like CBC does. (not Saturday).

Think about how much time this channel devotes to the damn BCS and other stuff like that. Would it be as popular without it? No.

Like it or not, (and I don't) if you're on ESPN, you're golden. If not, then you're competing against them and that is very hard to do.

[vladdy16 2,154]

If they have new TV contract with the NHL this will stop. It would be stupid of them to degrade a sport they have a contractual agreement with, but until this happens they have no reason to do any type of promotion of the NHL if the demand is not there.

They had a contract before and it didn't stop them. Why would that change?

[kylee 727]

If ESPN carries hockey, then they will devote Sportscenter time to it, show the highlights, promote the broadcasts, etc. But I would like them to make a Hockey Night like CBC does. (not Saturday).

that's the beginning of the entire problem with hockey on ESPN, even the idea of it.

does anyone know that sportscenter has a "hockey night" ?

its wednesday.

its a joke.

and even when hockey was on ESPN it was just thrown on espn2 and barely covered then.

of course id be happy if the NHL was back on ESPN but at the same time i have to be honest with myself and say that i think people (myself included) would probably just complain about ESPN not covering hockey enough on the network.

but at the same time hockey cannot grow in popularity in the US if it's on Versus albeit the ratings have been up, we all know it's nothing compared to even espn2

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

If they have new TV contract with the NHL this will stop. It would be stupid of them to degrade a sport they have a contractual agreement with, but until this happens they have no reason to do any type of promotion of the NHL if the demand is not there.

Here, let me help you and take the foot outta your mouth. It's obvious you know little of why the NHL left or is nor longer on ESPN, nor do you know why they aren't there now.

You believe that ESPN will give the league playtime, and show the sport if given a contract? It won't happen. They never have, and unless the US decided it loves hockey tomorrow, it won't happen in the future either. They don't see the money in it, and both sides I think feel slighted from past dealings.

It's like the red wings asking Quincey to come back and play in the AHL for us again, because he's done so well in the NHL. It just won't happen.

[kylee 727]

You believe that ESPN will give the league playtime, and show the sport if given a contract? It won't happen. They never have, and unless the US decided it loves hockey tomorrow, it won't happen in the future either. They don't see the money in it, and both sides I think feel slighted from past dealings.

plus could you imagine the talking heads on ESPN covering hockey? there is only a handful of people there who know about the game.

but as much as i get annoyed with ESPN, it would be big for the NHL to potentially draw in casual fans to watch the league more; i cant be selfish about it.

i wish there were some way that TSN could make a deal to be broadcasted in the US or at least places that are by Canada but i feel us fans would have the same problem we have with Versus. only people who really like hockey would want to see, and search for, networks like TSN.

people who are fans of other sports could run into hockey games on ESPN and become fans. That's important for the league. There's no reason that hockey needs to be a "niche" sport - not when there are NHL teams in florida, california, georgia, and north carolina. Aside from all of the little annoyances that ESPN brings, its best for the league to be on that network, and if at all possible, Versus as well

[South Dakota wings fan 7]

that would be so amazing. the little bit of TSN ive seen has been awesome.

and could you imagine the guy who does the NHL for ESPN commenting on games? dude's a tool; worse than melrose

Correct me if I am wrong here, but I think Barnaby also works for TSN.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

As much as ESPN sucks...it'd be best for the game. Not to mention, I miss Gary Thorne.

[Krayzie_Bone 58]

Why does it have to be exclusive? Why can't they have games on verses and espn. It would be great if Verses kept games on Mon and Tue and ESPN could put games on Thursday or Friday or whenever they want. The more the better.