Mark Madden's Hot Take: NHL not getting maximum exposure on ESPN, TNT

When the NHL left NBC to do rights deals with ESPN and TNT, it seemed good.

The season’s first week featured a Tuesday night doubleheader on ESPN and a Wednesday night doubleheader on TNT. The presentation, production and announcing were all sharp. There was lots of fanfare.

But ESPN hasn’t televised a game since Oct. 26 and won’t till Jan. 6.

TNT has had nothing but 10 p.m. games since Oct. 20. That doesn’t change till Jan. 5. (Hockey is being pre-empted for pro wrestling.)

TNT will televise a total of 50 regular-season games. ESPN and ABC will broadcast 28 between them.

Between NBC and the NBC Sports Network, 101 regular-season games aired last season. That campaign was shortened to 56 games per team by covid and didn’t start till Jan. 13.

Besides money, you’d think the primary purpose of doing two TV deals is to maximize exposure.

Twenty-three fewer games are airing this season than last. That’s despite last season being truncated and this season being the full 82 games.

In addition, ESPN’s deal allows games to be aired exclusively on streaming services ESPN+ and Hulu. Four Penguins games come under that heading, including this past Friday’s game at Washington. You don’t stream, you don’t watch. That adversely affects local bars and restaurants.

If ESPN’s SportsCenter is giving hockey any extra time this season, it’s not noticeable. Hockey is completely absent from debate shows like “Get Up” and “First Take.” (Stephen A. Smith isn’t into pucks.)

What was supposed to be a great deal doesn’t even look like a good deal, not in terms of growing the league and sport. Hockey is second fiddle to wrestling on TNT, and ESPN is using the NHL mostly to drive streaming subscriptions.

That doesn’t mean it’s all disappointing.

TNT’s game-night studio show is excellent and provides a breakthrough platform for ex-Penguin Paul Bissonnette. “The Point” is ESPN’s NHL studio show and features John Buccigross, arguably American TV’s best hockey guy.

But “The Point” airs Thursdays from 3-4 p.m. on ESPN2.

That slot seems to accurately reflect the Worldwide Leader’s respect for and interest in hockey.