View source for NHL on ESPN

{{short description| American live sports television series}}
{{Redirect|ESPN National Hockey Night|the 1994 game named after this ESPN program|ESPN National Hockey Night (video game)|the 2001 game|ESPN National Hockey Night (2001 video game)}}
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{{Overly detailed|date=July 2022}}
{{Cleanup rewrite|date=September 2024}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = NHL on ESPN logo 2021.svg
| genre                = [[National Hockey League on television|NHL hockey telecasts]]
| alt_name             = ''ESPN Hockey Night''<br />''ESPN+ Hockey Night''<br />''ESPN National Hockey Night'' (1992–2004)
| runtime              = 180 minutes or until the end of the game
| num_seasons          = 18
| starring             = [[Sean McDonough]]<br />[[Ray Ferraro]]<br />[[Emily Kaplan]]<br />[[Bob Wischusen]]<br />[[Ryan Callahan]]<br />[[Leah Hextall]]<br />[[Mike Monaco]]<br />[[A. J. Mleczko]]<br />[[Blake Bolden]]<br />[[Dave Jackson (ice hockey)|Dave Jackson]]<br />[[Steve Levy]]<br />[[Mark Messier]]<br />[[P. K. Subban]]<br />[[John Buccigross]]<br />[[Kevin Weekes]]<br />[[Roxy Bernstein]]<br />[[Cassie Campbell-Pascall]]<br />[[Arda Ocal]]
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| location             = [[List of National Hockey League arenas|Various NHL arenas]] {{small|(game telecasts and some pregame, intermission segments, and occasional postgame)}}<br />ESPN's [[Bristol, Connecticut|Bristol, CT]] studios {{small|(pregame, intermission segments, and occasional postgame)}}
| company              = [[ESPN]]
| budget               =
| camera               = [[Multi-camera setup|Multi-camera]]
| theme_music_composer = Bob Christianson<ref>{{cite news|last=Gentille|first=Sean|title=The NHL on ESPN theme song is back: Meet the genius who wrote it|url=https://theathletic.com/2441585/2021/03/10/the-nhl-on-espn-theme-song-is-back-meet-the-genius-who-wrote-it/|access-date=April 30, 2021|website=The Athletic}}</ref>
| network              = [[ESPN]] (1979–1982, 1985–1988, 1992–2004, 2021–present)<br />[[ESPN on ABC|ABC]] (1993–1994, 2000–2004, 2021–present)<br />[[ESPN2]] (1993–2004, 2022–present)<br />[[ESPN+]] (2018–present)<br />[[Hulu]] (2021–present)<br />[[ESPNU]] (2022–present)<br />{{small|(overflow)}}<br />[[ESPNEWS]] (2022–present)<br />{{small|(overflow)}}
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1979|12|19}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|1982|04|11}}
| first_aired2         = {{Start date|1985|10|10}}
| last_aired2          = {{End date|1988|05|26}}
| first_aired3         = {{Start date|1992|10|06}}
| last_aired3          = {{End date|2004|05|27}}
| first_aired4         = {{Start date|2021|10|12}}
| last_aired4          = {{End date|present}}
| related              = ''[[NHL on ABC]]''<br />''[[The Point (2021 TV series)|The Point]]''<br />''In the Crease''<br />''[[NHL on TNT]]'' {{small| (concurrent American rights holders from 2021 to 2028)}}<br />''[[TSN Hockey]]'' {{small| (in Canada, partly owned)}}<br />''[[NHL on Sportsnet]]''/''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' {{small| (concurrent Canadian rights holders from 2021 to 2026)}} 
}}
The broadcasts of [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) games produced by [[ESPN]] have been shown on its various platforms in the United States, including ESPN itself, [[NHL on ABC|ABC]], [[ESPN+]], [[ESPN2]], [[ESPNEWS]], [[ESPNU]], and [[Hulu]]. Since 2021, games have been broadcast under the '''''ESPN Hockey Night''''' branding, while those on ESPN+ have used the '''''ESPN+ Hockey Night''''' branding.

ESPN first televised NHL games in the {{NHL Year|1979}} season, initially by sub-contracting rights from individual franchises. After the NHL shifted to only having one exclusive rightsholder, ESPN acquired the NHL's national television rights in [[1985–86 NHL season|1985]] to replace [[USA Network]] (which had [[NHL on USA|previously aired NHL games]] in parallel with ESPN). ESPN lost the rights to [[SportsChannel America]] in [[1988–89 NHL season|1988]].

ESPN regained the NHL's U.S. television rights from [[1992–93 NHL season|1992]] through the [[1999–2000 NHL season|1999–2000 season]], with the coverage branded under the blanket title '''''ESPN National Hockey Night'''.'' ESPN also sub-licensed a package of network television broadcasts to [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] (sister via ESPN parent [[The Walt Disney Company]]) under the ''[[NHL on ABC]]'' branding until [[1993–94 NHL season|1994]], when the NHL sold a broadcast television package to [[NHL on Fox|Fox Sports]]. In [[1999–2000 NHL season|1999]], ESPN renewed its contract through the [[2004–05 NHL season]], with ABC returning as broadcast television rightsholder to replace Fox.

The 2004–05 season was canceled due to a [[2004–05 NHL lockout|lockout of the NHL Players Association]]. ESPN had reached a two-year agreement to serve as cable rightsholder in a reduced capacity beginning in the [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06 season]] (with a smaller package of regular season games and playoff coverage primarily on [[ESPN2]], and the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals), alongside new broadcast rightsholder [[NHL on NBC|NBC]]. After the lockout, ESPN opted out of the contract. They were instead acquired by [[Comcast]], with telecasts moving to Versus (later renamed [[NBCSN]]); it held the [[NHL on Versus|cable rights]] (which were later unified with NBC's broadcast television rights after Comcast's [[Acquisition of NBCUniversal by Comcast|purchase]] of [[NBCUniversal|NBC Universal]]) through the [[2020–21 NHL season|2020–21 season]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Schuster|first=Blake|date=July 22, 2021|title=NHL Schedule 2021-22: Opening Day, All-Star Weekend and Key Dates Released|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2946203-nhl-schedule-2021-22-opening-day-all-star-weekend-and-key-dates-released|work=Bleacher Report|location= }}</ref>

On March 10, 2021, the NHL announced that it would return to ESPN networks under a seven-year contract beginning in the 2021–22 season. ESPN's subscription streaming service [[ESPN+]] provides the majority of the network's regular season NHL coverage, carrying a package of exclusive national games, and holding streaming rights to all out-of-market games (replacing the NHL.tv service). ESPN also broadcasts a package of games. ESPN and ESPN2 share coverage of the [[Stanley Cup playoffs]] with [[NHL on TNT|TNT and TBS]] — which also includes exclusive rights to the Stanley Cup Finals for ABC in even-numbered years.

Like other U.S. national NHL broadcasts, ''NHL on ESPN'' games may be available in Canada on [[NHL on Sportsnet|Sportsnet]] or streamed on [[Sportsnet+]] as part of a 12-year agreement with the NHL that lasts to the end of the 2025–26 season, subject to blackout restrictions.

== History ==

===Early years: 1979–1982 and 1985–1988===
ESPN initially covered the NHL during the {{NHL Year|1979}}, {{NHL Year|1980}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Quinn|first=Hal|date=January 19, 1981|title=The NHL Comes of Age|url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1981/1/19/the-nhl-comes-of-age|work=Maclean's|location= }}</ref> and {{NHL Year|1981}}<ref name="NHL okays ESPN deal">{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Cammy|url= https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1992/09/03/nhl-okays-espn-deal/| title= NHL okays ESPN deal|newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]]| date= September 3, 1992| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> seasons by making deals with individual teams.<ref name="Strachan" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Cable Tightrope for Sox, Bruins; Teams Must Balance Broadcasts to Keep Audience But Make Money|date=June 27, 1982|first=Jack|last=Craig|newspaper=Boston Globe|page=1}}</ref> This included eleven [[Hartford Whalers]] home broadcasts in 1980–81 and 25 the following year.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Craig|first1=Jack|title=Whaler cable plan has Bruins upset|work=The Boston Globe|date=June 7, 1981}}</ref> Branded as '''''ESPN Hockey''''', [[Sam Rosen (sportscaster)|Sam Rosen]],<ref>{{cite news |authorlink=David J. Halberstam|last=Halberstam|first=David J.|date=March 27, 2018|title=Sam Rosen: 21 Years Covering the NFL on Fox and 34 Seasons as Voice of the NY Rangers|url=https://www.sportsbroadcastjournal.com/sam-rosen-21-years-covering-nfl-34-seasons-ny-rangers/|work=Sports Broadcast Journal|location= }}</ref> Barry Landers, and Joe Boyle were employed as play-by-play announcers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Agness|first=Scott|date=December 11, 2013|title=Joe Boyle on Dick Vitale and His Son|url=https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/joe-boyle-dick-vitale-and-his-son|work=NBA|location= }}</ref> [[Pete Stemkowski]] was the lead color commentator.<ref>{{cite news |author=Rosen |first=Ron |date=March 25, 1982 |title=Penalty Box Looms for Ex-NHLer |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1982/03/25/penalty-box-looms-for-ex-nhler/3b1b3649-e2eb-46d9-93de-90e0fb68109a/ |access-date=February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Former New York Rangers' hockey player Peter Stemkowski was... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/03/24/Former-New-York-Rangers-hockey-player-Peter-Stemkowski-was/8543385794000/ |access-date=2023-10-15 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref> During the opening round of the [[1982 Stanley Cup playoffs|1982 playoffs]], ESPN broadcast Game 4 of the series between the [[1981–82 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]] and [[1981–82 Pittsburgh Penguins season|Pittsburgh Penguins]] and Game 2 of the series between [[1981–82 Minnesota North Stars season|Minnesota North Stars]]-[[1981–82 Chicago Black Hawks season|Chicago Black Hawks]],<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/04/06/Sports-Briefs/3518386917200/| title= Sports Briefs| work=[[United Press International|UPI]] | date= March 25, 1982| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> with Sam Rosen and Pete Stemkowski on the call. In the [[1981 Stanley Cup playoffs|season prior]], the pair called Games 3 and 4 of the playoff series between the [[1980–81 St. Louis Blues season|St. Louis Blues]] and [[1980–81 Pittsburgh Penguins season|Pittsburgh Penguins]].

During this time, [[USA Network|USA]] also [[NHL on USA|broadcast National Hockey League games]]. To prevent overexposure, the NHL decided to grant only one network exclusive rights. In April 1982, USA outbid ESPN for the NHL's American national television cable package ($8 million for two years).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Craig|first1=Jack|title=Now they're playing Cable Wars|work=The Boston Globe|date=May 8, 1982}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1983/01/24/625121/getting-down-to-business|title=Getting Down To Business|date=January 24, 1983|first=William|last=Taaffe|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427143048/http://www.si.com/vault/1983/01/24/625121/getting-down-to-business|archive-date=April 27, 2015}}</ref> In 1984, the NHL asked ESPN for a bid, but then gave USA the right to match it, which it did.<ref name="Strachan" />

After the 1984–85 season, the NHL Board of Governors chose to have USA Network and ESPN submit sealed bids. ESPN won by bidding nearly $25 million for three years, about twice as much as the USA had been paying. The contract called for ESPN to air up to 33 regular season games each season as well as the [[National Hockey League All-Star Game|NHL All-Star Game]] and the Stanley Cup playoffs.<ref name="Strachan">{{cite news|last1=Strachan|first1=Al|title=ESPN acquires NHL games Backroom bickering in TV deal|work=The Globe and Mail|date=July 30, 1985}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Mulligan|first1=Kevin|title=NHL Finds a Home at ESPN|work=Philadelphia Daily News|date=July 26, 1985}}</ref> The network chose [[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]] and [[Sam Rosen (sportscaster)|Sam Rosen]] to be the network's first play-by-play announcers, [[Mickey Redmond]] and [[Brad Park]] were selected to be the analysts, and [[Tom Mees]] and [[Jim Kelly (sportscaster)|Jim Kelly]] were chosen to serve as studio hosts. ESPN designated Sundays as '''''ESPN Hockey Night in America''''', but also aired select midweek telecasts. ESPN aired its first game, an opening-night matchup between the [[1985–86 Washington Capitals season|Washington Capitals]] and [[1985–86 New York Rangers season|New York Rangers]], on October 10, 1985.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sarni |first=Jim |date=October 10, 1985 |title=ESPN Breaks the Ice for Sports Fans With Caps-Rangers Game Thursday |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1985-10-05-8502130393-story.html |accessdate=February 9, 2016 |work=[[Sun-Sentinel]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=September 20, 1985 |title=Stockton, Walker Get a Break as Big Call Goes Their Way |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-09-20-sp-6574-story.html |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=Los Angeles Times |page=3 |language=en-US}}</ref>

At the end of the {{NHL Year|1987}} season, ESPN lost the NHL television rights to [[NHL on SportsChannel America|SportsChannel America]], who paid $51 million ($17 million per year) over three years,  more than double what ESPN had paid ($24 million) for the previous three years.<ref>{{cite news|date=June 22, 1988|title=Sportschannel America Interested in Buying HTS|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/06/22/sportschannel-america-interested-in-buying-hts/fbab2dfb-af45-49f4-bd98-0b20a61c3b00/|access-date=February 9, 2016|first=Norman |last=Chad |newspaper=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1991/03/18/shooting-star-brett-hull-has-become-a-goal-scorer-of-near-gretzkian-dimensions|date=March 18, 1991|first=Richard|last=Demak|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=Shooting Star}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=November 26, 1988|title=NHL and Sportschannel: More Is Less|last=Chad|first=Norman|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/11/26/nhl-and-sportschannel-more-is-less/f82b8589-b0e8-47fb-919f-832aca20dc7b/|access-date=February 9, 2016|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Bass|first=Alan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JgLqzbebH4gC&q=nhl+sportschannel+america&pg=PA198|title=The Great Expansion: The Ultimate Risk That Changed the Nhl Forever|date=25 January 2011|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=9781450286077|page=198}}</ref> SportsChannel America managed to get a fourth NHL season for just $5 million.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gatehouse|first=Jonathon|date= October 2012|title=The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the NHL and Changed the Game Forever|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ryb0O7riZnQC&q=nhl+sportschannel+america&pg=PA158|publisher= Triumph Books|page=158|isbn= 9781623686567}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Nidetz|first=Steve|url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-10-04-9103300943-story.html|title= NHL Feels Pinch in TV Deal|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]| date= October 4, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Moshavi|first=Sharon D.|date=January 13, 1992|title=BC-1992-01-13.pdf|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1992/BC-1992-01-13.pdf|page=78}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-09-26-1991269142-story.html| title= Lack of TV contract doesn't shake up NHL| work=[[Newsday]] and [[Baltimore Sun]] | date= September 22, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite news |last=Shea |first=Jim |date=October 4, 1991 |title=NHL, Sportschannel Sign One-Year Deal |work=Chicago Tribune |location= |url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1991-10-04-0000211242-story,amp.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617234340/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1991-10-04-0000211242-story,amp.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 17, 2021}}</ref> SportsChannel America was only available in a few major markets (notably absent though were [[Detroit]], [[Pittsburgh]] and [[St. Louis]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Strachan|first=Al|date=March 15, 2005|title=NHL needs a TV partner|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Columnists/Strachan/2005/03/15/961494.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103093933/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Columnists/Strachan/2005/03/15/961494.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2019|newspaper=Toronto Sun}}</ref>)<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1988/08/22/woe-canada-a-nation-wept-as-its-hero-nhl-star-wayne-gretzky-was-traded-from-edmonton-to-los-angeles|date=August 22, 1988|first=E.M.|last=Swift|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=Woe, Canada}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=NHL broadcast boss pleased with cable move|date=May 2, 1989|first=Rudy|last=Martzke|newspaper=USA Today|page=3C}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Staudohar|first=Paul D.|date= 31 May 2018|title=Playing for Dollars: Labor Relations and the Sports Business|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XLdcDwAAQBAJ&q=1990+nhl+all+star+game+on+nbc&pg=PA138|publisher= Cornell University Press|page=138|isbn= 9781501717857}}</ref> and reached only a 1/3 of the households that [[ESPN]] did at the time.<ref>{{cite book |title=Playing for dollars: labor relations and the sports business |last=Staudohar |first= Paul D. |year=1996 |publisher=Cornell University Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/playingfordollar00stau/page/n150 137] |isbn=9780801483424 |url=https://archive.org/details/playingfordollar00stau |url-access=registration }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1988/06/27/117913/a-better-open-too-much-brent-abc-improved-at-brookline-but-brent-musburgers-ego-showed-in-the-nba-finals|title=A Better Open; Too Much Brent|date=June 27, 1988|magazine=Sports Illustrated|first=William|last=Taaffe}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ryan|first=Bob|url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-10-03-1991276186-story.html| title= Underexposed NHL needs to write Dear John letter to Ziegler|newspaper=[[Baltimore Sun]]| date= October 3, 1991| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> In the first year of the deal ({{NHL Year|1988}}), SportsChannel America was available in only 7 million homes, compared to ESPN's reach of 50 million.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Greenberg|first=Jay|date=October 7, 1991|title=Greed, Indeed|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1991/10/07/greed-indeed-in-its-expansion-strategy-as-in-too-many-other-matters-the-nhl-has-shown-a-passion-for-fools-gold-title-3dgreed|magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> By the [[1991–92 NHL season|1991–92 season]], ESPN was available in 60.5 million homes, whereas SportsChannel America was available in only 25 million.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tilsner|first=Julie|url= https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1992-10-11/the-puck-stops-here-for-espn| title= The Puck Stops Here For ESPN|newspaper=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]|date=October 11, 1992| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Gatehouse|first=Jonathon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ryb0O7riZnQC&q=John+Ziegler+SportsChannel+America+nhl&pg=PA158|title=The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the NHL and Changed the Game Forever|date=October 2012|publisher=Triumph Books|isbn=9781623686567|page=158}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=June 1, 1992|last=Nidetz|first=Steve|title=NHL'S TV Policy Riles Announcers|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-06-01-9202190025-story.html|access-date=February 9, 2016|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]])}}</ref>

===Second return to ESPN and ABC's involvement: 1992–1999===

When the SportsChannel deal ended in [[1991–92 NHL season|1992]], the league returned to ESPN for another contract that would pay US$80 million over five years.<ref name="NHL okays ESPN deal"/><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Swift|first=E.M.|date=October 19, 1992|title=Don't Change That Channel|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1992/10/19/dont-change-that-channel-contrary-to-conventional-wisdom-the-nhl-can-make-it-on-tv-with-a-few-alterations-title-3ddon|magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1992-09-04-0000112893-story.html| title= Sportschannel Sues Over NHL Deal|first=Jim|last=Shea|newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]]| date= September 4, 1992| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> Until the [[2001–02 NHL season]], weekly regular season games were broadcast on Sundays (between [[ESPN Sunday Night Football|NFL]] and [[MLB on ESPN|baseball]] seasons), Wednesdays,<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=February 22, 2005|title=Picture Is Fuzzy for N.H.L. on Networks|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/22/sports/hockey/picture-is-fuzzy-for-nhl-on-networks.html|work=The New York Times|location=|authorlink=Richard Sandomir}}</ref> and Fridays,<ref name=":1" /> and were titled '''''Sunday/Wednesday/Friday Night Hockey'''''. Before 1999, these telecasts were non-exclusive, meaning they were blacked out in the regions of the competing teams, and an alternate game was shown in these affected areas.

During the Stanley Cup playoffs, ESPN and ESPN2 provided almost nightly coverage, often carrying games on both channels concurrently.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1994-06-27-9406300901-story.html| title= Never Better: ESPN Excels With Stanley Cup Finals|first=Jim|last=Shea|newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]]| date= June 27, 1994| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> Games in the first two rounds were non-exclusive, while telecasts in the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals<ref>{{cite news|date=September 13, 1994|title=Fox, ESPN ink deals with NHL|work=UPI|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/09/13/Fox-ESPN-ink-deals-with-NHL/5942779428800/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/capitals/longterm/1998/stanleycup/articles/waves13.htm| title= In Stanley Cup Faceoff, Fox, ESPN Play to a Draw|first=Leonard|last=Sharpio|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]| date= June 11, 1998| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1998-06-11-1998162070-story.html| title= ESPN's Clement feels Caps' pain, revels in success|first=Milton|last=Kent|newspaper=[[Baltimore Sun]]| date= June 11, 1998| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> were exclusive (except in 1993<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1993-05-28-1993148025-story.html| title= ESPN gives hockey its moment on center ice|first=Ray|last=Frager|newspaper=[[Baltimore Sun]]| date= May 28, 1993| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> and 1994). Beginning in the [[1993–94 NHL season|1993&ndash;94 season]], up to five games per week were also shown on [[ESPN2]], branded as '''''NHL Fire on Ice'''''.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-10-01-9310010193-story.html| title= ESPN2 Takes Aim at Young, Restless|first=Steve|last=Nidetz|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]| date= October 1, 1993 | access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref>

Sister broadcast network [[ESPN on ABC|ABC]] also [[NHL on ABC|aired NHL games]] during the first two seasons of the contract, in the league's first network television broadcasts since [[NHL on NBC|NBC]]'s previous contract in the 1970s.<ref name=":0">{{cite web| url= https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1993-05-07-0000102356-story.html| title= Select Few Watching NHL on ABC|first=Jim|last=Shea|newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]]| date= May 7, 1993| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref> In the first season, this included selected playoff games,<ref>{{cite news|date=August 27, 1992|title=NHL governors "ecstatic' over reported TV package|page=E2|newspaper=[[Kitchener-Waterloo Record]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first=E.M.|last=Swift|date=June 20, 1994|title=Hot Not|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1994/06/20/hot-not|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> and later expanded to include a package of regular season games in the second season.<ref>{{cite news|author=Rudy Martzke|date=February 5, 1993|title=NHL's new boss ready to clear up confusion|page=3C|newspaper=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> These telecasts were produced by ESPN and were officially considered to be [[Brokered programming|time-buys]] on ABC by [[ESPN Inc.]]<ref name=":0" /> This arrangement ended in the [[1994–95 NHL season|1994–95 season]], when the NHL began a new contract with [[NHL on Fox|Fox]] as its broadcast television partner.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/10/sports/hockey-fox-outbids-cbs-for-nhl-games.html| title= Fox Outbids CBS for N.H.L. Games| first=Richard |last=Sandomir |work=[[The New York Times]] | date= September 10, 1994| access-date= March 20, 2008}}</ref>

===Final years, and including ABC full-time: 1999–2004===
{{see also|NHL on ABC#NHL returns to ABC (1999–2004)}}

In 1998, ESPN renewed its contract through 2004 for $600 million, beginning in the [[1999–2000 NHL season|1999–2000 season]]. Under the new contract, ESPN was permitted two exclusive telecasts per team per season, while ABC would also return as broadcast television rightsholder to replace Fox.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1999-04-23-9904230309-story.html| title= Fox Probably Grateful to Ice the Puck| first=Jeff |last=Goldberg |work=[[Hartford Courant]] | date= April 23, 1999| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1999-06-08-9906080089-story.html| title= Final meltdown of relationship between Fox, NHL begins today| work=Milton Kent ([[Baltimore Sun]]) | date= June 8, 1999| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=Jun 9, 2000|title=Stars' 1-0 triumph brings in viewers|work=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/2000/0609/575965.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-08-26-9808260035-story.html| title= Price for NHL Rights Is Right, Disney Says| first=Michael |last=Hirsley |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] | date= August 26, 1998| access-date= February 9, 2016}}</ref>

ESPN's terms of the deal included: up to 200 games a year split between ESPN and ESPN2, the All-Star Skills Challenge, the majority of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals, while ABC's terms included: rights to the [[NHL All-Star Game]], 4 to 5 weeks of regular season action, with three games a week, 6 weekends of Stanley Cup Playoff action, and the rest of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Beginning in [[1999–2000 NHL season|1999–2000 season]], ESPN was permitted two exclusive telecasts per team per season. When ESPN started broadcasting [[NBA on ESPN|NBA]] games on Wednesday and Friday nights in [[2002–03 NBA season|2002]], the weekly hockey broadcasts were moved to Thursday and the broadcasts were renamed to '''''ESPN Thursday Night Hockey'''''.

Following the 2003–04 season, ESPN was only willing to renew its contract for two additional years at $60 million per year.<ref>{{cite news|title=NHL announces TV deal with NBC|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2004-05-19-martzke-nbc_x.htm|author=Rudy Martzke|newspaper=USA Today|date=May 19, 2004|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> ABC refused to televise the Stanley Cup Finals in prime time, suggesting that the Finals games it would telecast be played on weekend afternoons (including a potential Game 7). [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] executives later conceded that they overpaid for the 1999–2004 deal, so the company's offer to renew the television rights was lower in 2004.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/apr01/apr09/4_thurs/news1thursday.html|title=Sports TV get pricier and pricier. Here's why|author=Kevin Downey|magazine=Media Life Magazine|date=April 12, 2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013043902/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/apr01/apr09/4_thurs/news1thursday.html|archive-date=13 October 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Before the [[2004-05 NHL lockout|2004–05 lockout]], the NHL had reached two separate deals with [[NHL on NBC|NBC]] (who would replace [[NHL on ABC|ABC]] as the NHL's national U.S. broadcast television partner) and ESPN.<ref>{{cite news|last=Umstead|first=R. Thomas|date=August 31, 1998|title=ESPN Lands $600M NHL Deal|work=Multichannel News|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/espn-lands-600m-nhl-deal-155184}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pergament|first=Alan|date=September 30, 1999|title=With Fox Gone, NHL Turns All-Disney|work=The Buffalo News|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/with-fox-gone-nhl-turns-all-disney/article_90f64e93-1f95-5f65-8eb0-4c102e146c0a.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=June 22, 1999|title=NHL Ratings Jump A Little|work=CBS News|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nhl-ratings-jump-a-little/}}</ref> ESPN offered the NHL $60 million to renew its contract, carrying about 40 games (only fifteen of which would be during the regular season), mostly on ESPN2.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://puckthemedia.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/the-suitor-tutor-part-1-on-versus-and-nbc-how-have-they-done-and-where-the-merger-will-take-them/#more-5549 |title=The Suitor Tutor, Part 1: On VERSUS and NBC, How Have They Done, and Where the Merger Will Take Them |author=Lepore, Steve |date=4 August 2010 |work=Puck The Media |publisher=WordPress.com |access-date=10 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=2005-05-03 |title=ESPN Appears to Control the Puck Over Carrying N.H.L. Games Next Season |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/03/sports/hockey/espn-appears-to-control-the-puck-over-carrying-nhl-games-next.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sarni |first=Jim |date=May 20, 2004 |title=NBC, ESPN Telecast Deals a Major Lift for NHL |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2004-05-20-0405200303-story.html |access-date=February 9, 2016 |work=[[Sun Sentinel]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-05-19 |title=NBC returns to pros; ESPN re-ups coverage |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/sportsbusiness/news/story?id=1804362 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Heath |first=Thomas |date=May 20, 2004 |title=NBC Takes Over NHL Broadcasts |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2004/05/20/nbc-takes-over-nhl-broadcasts/069c2f1f-a8be-4bb5-bad9-a83cb201243c/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> However, ESPN opted out of the contract following the lockout, and the NHL reopened negotiations; [[Comcast]] offered over $200 million for a three-season deal to [[NHL on Versus|air games]] on [[NBCSN|OLN]] (a channel that was later rebranded as Versus to reflect its expansion from an outdoor recreation format to mainstream sports),<ref name="nbcsportsnetwork2">{{cite web |last=Fernadez |first=Bob |title=Goodbye Versus, hello NBC Sports Network |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/126495098.html |access-date=August 1, 2011 |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |publisher=[[Philly.com]]}}</ref> which ESPN declined to match.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 19, 2005 |title=NHL Is Pleased With TV Deal |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-aug-19-sp-nhltv19-story.html |access-date=February 9, 2016 |work=Larry Stewart ([[Los Angeles Times]])}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rovell |first=Darren |date=August 17, 2005 |title=ESPN decides not to match Comcast's offer |work=ESPN |location= |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2137098}}</ref> After Comcast acquired a majority stake in [[NBCUniversal|NBC Universal]] in 2011, it renewed both the broadcast television and cable rights to the league via [[NBC Sports]] through the 2020–21 season.<ref name="nhlcom-deal">{{cite web |last=Condor |first=Bob |date=April 19, 2011 |title=NHL, NBC sign record-setting 10-year TV deal |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=560238 |access-date=July 20, 2011 |publisher=NHL}}</ref><ref name="nbcsportsnetwork2" />

===World Cup of Hockey: 2016===
{{see also|2016 World Cup of Hockey#Broadcasting}}

Long after losing their broadcasting rights to the NHL, ESPN served as the U.S. broadcaster of the NHL-backed [[2016 World Cup of Hockey]], as NBC declined due to programming conflicts.<ref name="yahoo-wcohrights">{{cite web|title=Why NHL chose ESPN, Sportsnet for World Cup of Hockey|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/why-nhl-chose-espn--sportsnet-for-world-cup-of-hockey-171635192.html|access-date=July 29, 2015|website=Yahoo! Sports|date=March 4, 2015 |publisher=Yahoo! Canada Inc.}}</ref><ref name="sn-snwc2015">{{cite web|title=Sportsnet acquires rights to World Cup of Hockey|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/sportsnet-acquires-rights-world-cup-hockey/|access-date=29 July 2015|website=Sportsnet.ca|publisher=Rogers Digital Media}}</ref> For the tournament, ESPN named [[Steve Levy]] and [[Barry Melrose]] as the lead broadcast team, while adding [[Kevin Weekes]] from [[NHL Network (American TV channel)|NHL Network]], [[Leah Hextall]] from [[Sportsnet]], NHL Hall of Famers [[Chris Chelios]] and [[Brett Hull]] to their roster.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2016-06-27|title=Barry Melrose, Steve Levy Top Commentator Team for ESPN's World Cup of Hockey 2016 Telecasts; Brett Hull and Chris Chelios Join as Studio Analysts|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2016/06/barry-melrose-steve-levy-top-commentator-team-espns-world-cup-hockey-2016-telecasts-brett-hull-chris-chelios-join-studio-analysts/|access-date=2021-09-18|website=ESPN Press Room U.S.|language=en-US}}</ref> ESPN also named NHL Hall of Famers [[Chris Chelios]] and [[Brett Hull]] as their studio analyst.<ref name=":4" />

Additionally, ESPN brought back current [[St. Louis Blues]] color commentator [[Darren Pang]], who was the network's secondary color commentator from 1999 to 2004, for their coverage, as an ice-level reporter for select games.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-09-12|title=ESPN's World Cup of Hockey 2016 Tournament Commentator Schedule|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2016/09/espns-world-cup-hockey-2016-tournament-commentator-schedule/|access-date=2021-09-18|website=ESPN Press Room U.S.|language=en-US}}</ref> [[John Saunders (journalist)|John Saunders]], who had hosted ESPN and ABC's NHL coverage from 1987 to 1988 and again from 1992 to 2004, was tapped to lead the studio coverage,<ref name=":4" /> however, due to his unexpected death a month after ESPN announced their complete roster,<ref>{{Cite web|title=ESPN host John Saunders dies at 61|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/john-saunders-dies-at-61/c-281311852|access-date=2021-09-18|website=NHL.com|language=en-US}}</ref> Cohn, who was originally going to do features for ESPN, was tapped to replace Saunders.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ESPN Reveals World Cup Broadcasting Schedule|url=http://www.hockeyworldblog.com/2016/09/15/espn-reveals-world-cup-broadcasting-schedule/|access-date=2021-09-18|website=Hockey World Blog|date=September 15, 2016 |language=en-US}}</ref>

===ESPN+ involvement: 2018–present===
After its 2018 launch, ESPN's subscription streaming service [[ESPN+]] added an NHL studio program, a free daily regular season game courtesy of NHL.tv (which is operated by Disney subsidiary [[BAMTech]]), and a Stanley Cup Playoffs documentary series (replacing one produced as part of [[Showtime (TV channel)|Showtime]]'s ''All Access'' franchise).<ref name="aa-crease">{{Cite news|date=2018-04-13|title=Quest for the Stanley Cup moves from Showtime to ESPN+|language=en-US|work=Awful Announcing|url=http://awfulannouncing.com/nhl/quest-for-the-stanley-cup-moves-from-showtime-to-espn-which-will-also-carry-daily-hockey-show.html|access-date=2018-05-08}}</ref> As part of the NHL.tv deal, ESPN+ started a nightly hockey show, ''In the Crease'', hosted by [[Linda Cohn]] and [[Barry Melrose]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-09-24|title=2018-19 NHL Season Puck Drops on ESPN+ October 4|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2018/09/2018-19-nhl-season-puck-drops-on-espn-october-4/|access-date=2021-06-29|website=ESPN Press Room U.S.|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Third return to ESPN and ABC: 2021–present===
In the years before the end of NBC's latest contract with the NHL, the league explored options for splitting its national broadcast rights, similar to the television deals of the [[National Football League|NFL]], [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] and [[Major League Baseball|MLB]]. This included selling packages to streaming services, aiming to maximize the value of its broadcast rights.<ref name=":22">{{cite web|last1=Ourand|first1=John|date=May 27, 2019|title=NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman relishes the opportunities as next media deal approaches|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2019/05/27/Media/Sports-media.aspx|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913054724/https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2019/05/27/Media/Sports-media.aspx|archive-date=September 13, 2020|access-date=September 20, 2020|website=sportsbusinessdaily.com}}</ref> On March 10, 2021, Disney, ESPN, and the NHL announced that a seven-year agreement was reached for ESPN to hold the first half of its new media rights beginning in the [[2021–22 NHL season|2021–22 season]];<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coryell |first=Grace |date=2021-03-10 |title=The Walt Disney Company, ESPN and National Hockey League Reach Groundbreaking Long-Term Agreement |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2021/03/the-walt-disney-company-espn-and-national-hockey-league-reach-groundbreaking-long-term-agreement/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=March 10, 2021|title=NHL back on ESPN with 7-year multiplatform deal|work=[[ESPN]]|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/31039351/nhl-back-espn-7-year-multiplatform-deal|access-date=March 11, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Draper|first=Kevin|date=March 11, 2021|title=N.H.L. Returns to ESPN in a 7-Year Deal With an Emphasis on Streaming|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/10/sports/hockey/hockey-nhl-espn-disney.html|access-date=September 18, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=NHL deal with ESPN, Disney takes hockey into the future|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-deal-with-espn-disney-takes-hockey-into-the-future/c-322354090|access-date=September 18, 2021|website=[[NHL.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff |first=Sean Shapiro and The Athletic |title=ESPN, NHL agree to 7-year broadcast deal |url=https://theathletic.com/4222479/2021/03/09/espn-nhl-agree-to-7-year-broadcast-deal/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Spiegel |first=Jackie |date=2021-03-10 |title=NHL games returning to ESPN for 2021-22 season after 16 years apart|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nhl/news/espn-nhl-seven-year-deal/10zt071gixjsp1dub5gdtzp3iz |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=[[Sporting News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=O'Leary |first1=Sean |last2=Gold-Smith |first2=Josh |date=2021-03-10 |title=NHL, ESPN reach 7-year broadcast deal reportedly worth over $2.8B |url=https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2130188 |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=theScore.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Battaglio |first=Stephen |date=2021-03-10 |title=NHL TV rights return to ESPN with a seven-year-deal that includes streaming |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-03-10/nhl-returns-to-espn-with-a-seven-year-deal-with-four-stanley-cup-finals |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

* ESPN holds rights to at least 25 exclusive national games per season, which can air on either ESPN, ESPN2, or ABC, including exclusive rights to opening night games. Games on ABC stream on [[ESPN+]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=September 16, 2021|title=ESPN, Turner release NHL schedules for 2021-22 season, featuring 78 regular season games on cable and broadcast|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/espn-turner-release-nhl-schedules-for-2021-22-season-featuring-78-regular-season-games-on-cable-and-broadcast.html|access-date=September 18, 2021|website=Awful Announcing|language=en-US}}</ref>
* ABC aired the Thanksgiving Showdown in 2021.
*75 exclusive national games per season are streamed exclusively on ESPN+, and are not carried on linear television.<ref name="awfulannouncing.com">{{Cite web|date=March 11, 2021|title=Winners and losers of the NHL's TV deal with ESPN|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/winners-and-losers-of-the-nhls-tv-deal-with-espn.html|access-date=March 16, 2021|website=Awful Announcing|language=en-US|quote=[Y]ou'll not only need a cable or satellite subscription to access your team's RSN and ESPN, but you'll also need a subscription to ESPN+ or Hulu. 75 games will be streaming exclusively in this TV deal, and while you previously got everything you needed with the cable sub, you now will need to jump into the streaming waters to see every game.}}</ref> These games are also available to [[Hulu]] subscribers.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Chi |first=Danny |date=2022-09-07 |title=The Walt Disney Company Announces 103 Exclusive National Hockey League Games Across ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu and ABC Beginning October 11 |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2022/09/the-walt-disney-company-announces-103-exclusive-national-hockey-league-games-across-espn-espn-hulu-and-abc-beginning-october-11/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="ESPN schedule">{{cite press release|title=The Walt Disney Company Announces 100 Exclusive National Hockey League Games Across ESPN, ESPN+, ABC, and Hulu Beginning October 10|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2023/08/the-walt-disney-company-announces-100-exclusive-national-hockey-league-games-across-espn-espn-abc-and-hulu-beginning-october-10/|website=ESPN Press Room|date=August 30, 2023|access-date=August 30, 2023}}</ref>
*ESPN+ streams all [[Out-of-market sports package|out-of-market]] games, as well as on-demand versions of all nationally televised games.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Lucia |first=Joe |date=2022-10-07 |title=ESPN is rebranding the NHL out of market package as 'NHL Power Play on ESPN+' |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/espn-is-rebranding-the-nhl-out-of-market-package-as-nhl-power-play-on-espn.html |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref>
* ESPN holds rights to [[NHL All-Star Game|All-Star Weekend]], with the [[NHL All-Star Skills Competition|Skills Competition]] airing on ESPN, and the All-Star Game airing on ABC.
* ESPN holds rights to the [[NHL Stadium Series]], annually since [[2023 NHL Stadium Series|2023]].
* ESPN holds rights to the [[NHL Entry Draft]].
* ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC share in coverage of the Stanley Cup playoffs, holding rights to "half" of the games in the first two rounds, and one conference final per season. ESPN/ABC has the first choice of which conference final series to air. The remaining half airs on [[NHL on TNT|TNT]] and TBS.<ref name=":92">{{cite news|last=Lucia|first=Joe|date=April 27, 2021|title=Turner's NHL deal will include "up to 72" exclusive national games each season, half the Stanley Cup Playoffs, HBO Max streaming|work=Awful Announcing|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nhl/turners-nhl-deal-will-include-up-to-72-exclusive-national-games-each-season-half-the-stanley-cup-playoffs-hbo-max-streaming.html}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{cite news|last1=Knoll|first1=Andrew|date=April 27, 2021|title=N.H.L. and Turner Sports Reach 7-Year Media Rights Deal|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/27/sports/hockey/nhl-turner-media-rights-deal.html|url-access=limited|access-date=May 13, 2021}}</ref>
* Exclusive rights to the Stanley Cup Finals alternate between ABC and TNT;<ref name=":92" /><ref name=":9" /> ESPN has the ability to air [[ESPN Megacast|simulcast coverage with alternate feeds]] on its other channels and platforms.
* ESPN2 airs a weekly studio program dedicated to the NHL, ''The Point'' (which is hosted by [[John Buccigross]]),<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 30, 2021|title=ESPN unveils new weekly NHL studio show The Point, hosted by John Buccigross|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/espn-unveils-plans-for-new-weekly-nhl-studio-show-the-point-hosted-by-john-buccigross.html|access-date=September 30, 2021|website=Awful Announcing|language=en-US}}</ref> and ESPN holds various highlights and international rights.

On May 10, 2021, [[TSN Hockey|TSN]]'s [[Ray Ferraro]] (who previously worked for ESPN from 2002 to 2004), and [[NHL on NBC|NBC]]'s [[Brian Boucher]] signed with ESPN/ABC to become their top hockey analysts.<ref name=":8"/> On May 17, ESPN hired former [[Calgary Flames]] studio host [[Leah Hextall]] to be a regular play-by-play announcer on NHL broadcasts. She is the first woman in league history to hold that role. Hextall previously worked the [[2016 World Cup of Hockey]], and has worked the [[NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament]] for ESPN.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://theathletic.com/4212279/2021/05/17/leah-hextall-to-make-history-as-espns-new-nhl-play-by-play-voice-source/ | title=Leah Hextall to make history as ESPN's new NHL play-by-play voice: Source }}</ref>

On June 9, 2021, ESPN announced that current [[New Jersey Devils]] [[Defenceman (ice hockey)|defenseman]] [[P. K. Subban]] would be a studio analyst for the remainder of the [[2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs]], making his debut on ''[[SportsCenter]]'' that day.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Subban of Devils debuts for ESPN as NHL analyst|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/new-jersey-devils-pk-subban-to-debut-for-espn-as-nhl-analyst/c-325274252|access-date=June 11, 2021|website=NHL.com|language=en-US}}</ref> The same day, Craig Morgan, Arizona-based reporter on the [[Arizona Coyotes]] and [[NHL Network (American TV channel)|NHL Network]] correspondent, reported that ESPN had added NBC's [[Ryan Callahan]] and [[A. J. Mleczko]] to their analyst roster, and that NHL Network's [[Kevin Weekes]], who also worked for ESPN during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, was in talks to return to ESPN in an analyst/reporter role.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bucholtz|first=Andrew|date=June 9, 2021|title=ESPN is set to add Kevin Weekes, AJ Mleczko Griswold and Ryan Callahan to NHL coverage, with Turner adding Anson Carter|work=Awful Announcing|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nhl/espn-kevin-weekes-aj-mleczko-griswold-ryan-callahan-turner-anson-carter.html}}</ref>

On June 24, ESPN/ABC officially announced that six-time [[List of Stanley Cup champions|Stanley Cup Champion]] [[Mark Messier]] had signed a multi-year deal to join ESPN in a studio analyst role.<ref name="Gardner">{{Cite web|last=Gardner|first=Steve|title=ESPN adds Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier as NHL analyst|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2021/06/24/mark-messier-joins-espn-nhl-analyst/5336871001/|access-date=June 24, 2021|website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=June 24, 2021|title=Mark Messier joins ESPN as studio analyst for NHL coverage|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/31702318/mark-messier-joins-espn-studio-analyst-nhl-coverage|access-date=June 24, 2021|website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ciccotelli|first=Jenna|title=Mark Messier Joining ESPN as NHL Studio Analyst Starting with 2021-22 Season|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2945146-mark-messier-joining-espn-as-nhl-studio-analyst-starting-with-2021-22-season|access-date=June 24, 2021|website=[[Bleacher Report]]}}</ref> Messier's signing was the first announced signing made by ESPN, and potentially was made as a counter to TNT signing Messier's former teammate [[Wayne Gretzky]], who was also recruited by ESPN. On June 28, Marchand reported that three-time Stanley Cup Champion [[Chris Chelios]] would also join ESPN/ABC as a studio analyst.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|last=Tornoe|first=Rob|title=ESPN's new NHL roster has several Flyers connections, including a once-hated foe|url=https://www.inquirer.com/flyers/espn-nhl-flyers-chris-chelios-mark-messier-20210630.html|access-date=September 11, 2021|website=www.inquirer.com|date=June 30, 2021}}</ref> The same day, ''[[The Athletic]]'' reported that current ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' color commentator/reporter [[Cassie Campbell-Pascall]] would also join the network.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Shapiro|first=Sean|title=ESPN to hire Chris Chelios, Cassie Campbell-Pascall for NHL broadcasts: Sources|url=https://theathletic.com/news/espn-to-hire-chris-chelios-cassie-campbell-pascall-for-nhl-broadcasts-sources/S3OKaz3BaxVE|access-date=June 29, 2021|website=[[The Athletic]]}}</ref>

ESPN formally confirmed its commentator teams on June 29, 2021. ESPN's [[ESPN College Football|college football]] #2 play-by-play man [[Sean McDonough]] would be the network's lead play-by-play announcer; [[Monday Night Football]]'s [[Steve Levy]] would lead studio coverage and contribute to occasional play-by-play commentary. Hextall and Wischusen were officially named as play-by-play commentators, as well as [[SportsCenter]]'s [[John Buccigross]], who would also contribute as an alternate studio host, and serve as the host for ''The Point''. ESPN legend [[Barry Melrose]], Messier, and Chelios were named strictly as studio analysts while Ferraro, Boucher,<ref name=":10" /> Weekes, Campbell-Pascall, Callahan, Mleczko, [[WEPN-FM|ESPN New York]]'s [[Rick DiPietro]], and [[Ice hockey at the 2018 Winter Olympics – Women's tournament|2018 gold medalist]] [[Hilary Knight (ice hockey)|Hilary Knight]] would contribute as booth, ice-level, and studio analysts. 2016 [[Isobel Cup]] champion [[Blake Bolden]] was added to join insiders [[Emily Kaplan]] and [[Greg Wyshynski]] as insiders and rinkside reporters.<ref name=":2" /> [[Linda Cohn]] continued her duties hosting ''In the Crease'', while also gaining roles as a rinkside reporter, backup studio, and game break host. On August 4, 2021, ESPN announced that they added the most recent Blue Jackets head coach and Stanley Cup-winning head coach [[John Tortorella]] as an extra studio analyst.<ref>{{Citetweet|number=1422941138248425480|user=espnpr|title=John Tortorella joins ESPN's roster of #NHL analysts presenting coverage this season across ESPN, @ABCNetwork, @ESPNPlus & @hulu|author=ESPN PR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Tortorella joins ESPN as NHL studio analyst|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/john-tortorella-joins-espn-as-nhl-studio-analyst/c-325906846|access-date=August 11, 2021|website=NHL.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

On September 16, after ESPN released their slate of games for the 2021–22 season, SportsCenter anchor and ESPN Social host [[Arda Ocal]] announced that he too would host select game broadcasts.<ref>{{cite tweet |author=ᴀʀᴅᴀ 🎃ᴄᴀʟ 🏒 |user=Arda |number=1438581080689422338 |date=September 16, 2021 |title=Now that the schedule is out, I can finally announce that I'm beyond thrilled to join the NHL on @ESPN Family this season! I'll be in the mix hosting game broadcasts & much more. LETS. GO! This is a dream come true & I'm extremely grateful to be joining such an amazing cast! https://t.co/A5vwLQUM4b |language=en |access-date=October 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917181431/https://twitter.com/Arda/status/1438581080689422338 |archive-date=September 17, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> On October 2, former referee [[Dave Jackson (ice hockey)|Dave Jackson]] joined the network as a rules analyst, an NHL first.<ref>{{cite tweet |author=ESPN PR |user=ESPNPR |number=1444029363830337539 |date=October 1, 2021 |title=Dave Jackson joins ESPN's roster of #NHL analysts presenting coverage this season across ESPN, @ABCNetwork, @ESPNPlus & @hulu https://t.co/axzNSCTvn0 |language=en |access-date=October 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019071633/https://twitter.com/espnpr/status/1444029363830337539 |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> Early into the 2021–22 season, ESPN added former NBC analyst [[Dominic Moore]], who had hosted the [[2021 NHL Expansion Draft|Expansion Draft]] with Weekes and ''ESPN College Football'' personality [[Chris Fowler]]. [[Laura Rutledge]], host of [[NFL Live]] and [[SEC Nation]], joined the NHL on ESPN team for their coverage of the [[2022 NHL All-Star Game]], in a celebrity interviewer role. After preparing for and playing in the [[Ice hockey at the 2022 Winter Olympics - Women's tournament|2022 Winter Olympics]] in [[Beijing]], Knight made her ESPN debut on the March 10, 2022, episode of "The Point", coincidentally on the first anniversary of ESPN regaining the rights to broadcast the NHL. Bolden, who has been working as a pro scout for the [[Los Angeles Kings]] since 2020, made her official ESPN on-air debut a week later. After the regular season kicked into high gear, Knight and Bolden were the only two who still had to make their on-air debuts with ESPN.

Occasionally, other well-known ESPN personalities like [[Jeremy Schaap]], [[Kevin Connors]], [[Michael Eaves]], and [[Max McGee (reporter)|Max McGee]] will be added in fill-in roles on The Point and In the Crease. [[Mike Monaco]], [[Roxy Bernstein]], and [[Caley Chelios]], daughter of Chris, have also filled in on game coverage. Subban and TSN's [[Gord Miller (sportscaster)|Gord Miller]], Ferraro's broadcast partner for Maple Leafs games on TSN, joined ESPN for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Tortorella left ESPN after their first season to become the new head coach of the [[Philadelphia Flyers]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-16 |title=Philadelphia Flyers hire John Tortorella as head coach |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/34103057/philadelphia-flyers-agree-4-year-deal-john-tortorella-team-head-coach-source-says |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}}</ref> After holding two stints with ESPN during the playoffs, the network announced that Subban would be joining their coverage full-time beginning with the [[2022–23 NHL season|2022–23 season]], holding both studio analyst and color commentator roles. This came after his most recent retirement announcement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-20 |title=NHL star defenseman, free agent P.K. Subban, 33, announced retirement |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/34629012/nhl-star-defenseman-free-agent-pk-subban-33-announces-retirement |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-10 |title=Recently retired P.K. Subban joining ESPN as hockey analyst |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/34994112/recently-retired-pk-subban-joining-espn-hockey-analyst |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chi |first=Danny |date=2022-11-10 |title=ESPN Signs P.K. Subban to Multi-Year Contract for NHL Coverage |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2022/11/espn-signs-p-k-subban-to-multi-year-contract-for-nhl-coverage/ |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}}</ref>

ESPN also confirmed that [[Spanish language]] coverage of the NHL would air on [[ESPN Deportes]] and [[ESPN Latin America]]. [[Kenneth Garay]] and Eitán Benezra would be the main play-by-play commentators, while Carlos Rossell and Antonio Valle contribute analysis and color commentary.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=June 29, 2021|title=Dynamic, Diverse and Accomplished Team to Present ESPN's NHL Coverage to Fans|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/?p=216400|access-date=June 29, 2021|website=ESPN Press Room U.S.|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Rigoberto Plascencia]] was later added as another play-by-play announcer.

For the 2021–22 season, ESPN aired 18 games (billed as ''ESPN Hockey Night''),<ref name=":3" />''<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |date=2021-10-04 |title=Breaking it Down: How to Watch the NHL on ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu, and ABC |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2021/10/breaking-it-down-how-to-watch-the-nhl-on-espn-espn-hulu-and-abc/ |access-date=2022-01-20 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}}</ref>'' while 75 exclusive national games per season would be streamed exclusively on ESPN+.<ref name="awfulannouncing.com"/> For the 2021–22 season, most of these games (billed as ''ESPN+ Hockey Night'')''<ref name=":11" />'' aired on Tuesday and Thursday nights, with selected games on Friday nights.<ref name=":3" /> These games were also available to [[Hulu]] subscribers. ESPN's first broadcasts were an opening night [[Doubleheader (television)|doubleheader]], with the [[2021–22 Pittsburgh Penguins season|Pittsburgh Penguins]] at the defending Stanley Cup champions [[2021–22 Tampa Bay Lightning season|Tampa Bay Lightning]], and the [[2021–22 Seattle Kraken season|Seattle Kraken]] at the [[2021–22 Vegas Golden Knights season|Vegas Golden Knights]] in the [[Seattle Kraken|Kraken]]'s first regular-season game in franchise history.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Disney, Turner Sports announce 2021-22 NHL schedule|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/disney-turner-sports-announce-2021-22-nhl-schedule/c-326166964|access-date=September 18, 2021|website=NHL.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3" />

Typically, games aired on ESPN, excluding ESPN+ games, are simulcast in Canada on the [[NHL on Sportsnet|Sportsnet]] channels, using the ESPN feed. However, on January 17, 2022, [[The Sports Network|TSN]], which is partly owned by ESPN, simulcast the ESPN+ feed of the [[2021–22 Arizona Coyotes season|Arizona Coyotes]]–[[2021–22 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]] game because of a huge snowstorm in Canada, which prevented the Canadiens' broadcast team from traveling south to Glendale to broadcast the game.<ref>{{YouTube|title=ESPN and TSN combined intro to Montreal Canadiens @ Arizona Coyotes game |id=5WSreLXBoh0}}</ref>

For the 2022–23 season, out-of-market games on ESPN+ – which did not carry any specific branding in the inaugural season – were branded as "NHL Power Play on ESPN+".<ref name=":13" /> ESPN (34) and ESPN2 (1) aired a combined at least 35 games (billed as ''ESPN Hockey Night''),''<ref name=":11" />'' while ABC aired 15 games under the ''ABC Hockey Saturday'' package, which consisted of 4 doubleheaders, the [[2023 NHL Stadium Series]], and one late-season tripleheader beginning the weekend after the All-Star break.<ref name=":3" />''<ref name=":11" />''<ref name=":12" />

On May 14, 2023, ESPN was widely criticized<ref>{{cite news |last=Dixon|first=Michael|date=May 14, 2023|title=ESPN comes under fire for awkward MLB, NHL coverage|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/espn-mlb-nhl-playoff-coverage-criticism.html|work=Awful Announcing|location= |access-date=May 17, 2023}}</ref> for its decision to implement a [[Split screen (video production)|split screen]] between its coverage of Game 6 of the [[2023 Stanley Cup playoffs#(P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (P2) Edmonton Oilers|Stanley Cup Playoff series]] between the [[2022–23 Vegas Golden Knights season|Vegas Golden Knights]] and [[2022–23 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton Oilers]] and a ''[[Sunday Night Baseball]]'' telecast between the [[2023 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis Cardinals]] and [[2023 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]], which was being played at the same time and was ultimately won by St. Louis by the score of 9-1.<ref>{{cite news |last=Toole|first=Connor|date=May 15, 2023|title=ESPN Ripped For Prioritizing MLB Blowout Over Stanley Cup Playoff Elimination Game|url=https://brobible.com/sports/article/espn-critcized-prioritizing-mlb-blowout-over-stanley-cup-playoff-elimination-game/|work=BroBible|location= |access-date=May 17, 2023}}</ref>

For the 2023–24 season, ESPN+/Hulu airs at least 50 exclusive games. Among linear broadcasts, 19 games aired on ABC, featuring four double-headers, both [[2024 NHL Stadium Series|NHL Stadium Series]] games, and two triple-headers on February 17 and April 13. ABC will also air the [[2024 Stanley Cup Finals]]. ''ABC Hockey Saturday'' for this season began on January 13, preceding [[2023–24 NFL playoffs|Super Wild Card Saturday]] of the [[NFL playoffs]], unlike past years when its slate began after the NHL All-Star Game, and ESPN air the rest.<ref name="ESPN schedule"/>

On June 5, 2023, it was announced that Chelios' contract would not be renewed<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deitsch |first=Richard |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Chris Chelios won't return to ESPN as NHL analyst |url=https://theathletic.com/4583551/2023/06/05/chris-chelios-not-returning-espn-analyst/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}</ref> as part of Disney's $5.5 billion cost cutting.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barnes |first=Brooks |date=2023-02-08 |title=Searching for Streaming Profit, Disney Cuts $5.5 Billion in Costs |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/08/business/disney-earnings.html |access-date=2023-06-19 }}</ref> On September 12, 2023, TNT hired [[Brian Boucher]] away from ESPN to serve as Keith Jones' replacement on the top team, thus reuniting with former NBC partners Kenny Albert and Eddie Olczyk.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2023/09/12/nbc-sports-philadelphia-flyers-broadcast-crew-keith-jones-brian-boucher-tnt | title=People & Personalities: Flyers name broadcast replacement for Keith Jones | date=September 12, 2023 }}</ref> On October 10, 2023, ESPN announced that Barry Melrose would retire from the network to spend more time with his family after being diagnosed with [[Parkinson's disease]].<ref>https://twitter.com/Buccigross/status/1711810339212271880 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Axson |first=Scooby |title=ESPN NHL analyst Barry Melrose has Parkinson's disease, retiring from network |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2023/10/10/espn-nhl-analyst-barry-melrose-parkinsons-disease/71132949007/ |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-10 |title=ESPN's Barry Melrose retires after Parkinson's disease diagnosis |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/38625766/espn-barry-melrose-retires-parkinson-disease-diagnosis |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-10 |title=Barry Melrose retiring as ESPN's longtime hockey analyst after Parkinson's disease diagnosis |url=https://apnews.com/article/barry-melrose-parkinsons-disease-espn-nhl-5885d9eae2a7daba49055f7a60a2af04 |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hill |first=Glynn A. |date=2023-10-10 |title=Barry Melrose, ESPN hockey analyst, retires after Parkinson's diagnosis |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/10/10/barry-melrose-retires-parkinsons-espn/ |access-date=2023-10-10 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> On December 19, 2023, Campbell-Pascall accepted a new position as a special advisor role with the [[Professional Women's Hockey League]] (PWHL). Although she had left Sportsnet, she will remain with ESPN/ABC.<ref name="Campbell Leaves">{{cite news |author1=Sportsnet Staff |title=Cassie Campbell-Pascall leaving Sportsnet, joins PWHL as special advisor |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/pwhl/article/cassie-campbell-pascall-leaving-sportsnet-joins-pwhl-as-special-advisor/ |access-date=21 December 2023 |work=Rogers Sportsnet |publisher=Rogers Communications |date=18 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219115025/https://www.sportsnet.ca/pwhl/article/cassie-campbell-pascall-leaving-sportsnet-joins-pwhl-as-special-advisor/ |archive-date=19 December 2023 |location=Toronto | url-status = live}}</ref>

The 2024–25 season will again have ESPN+/Hulu stream at least 50 exclusive games. [[ESPN2]] will have a doubleheader on December 27. ABC's 19-game schedule for this season will begin earlier than normal on January 4 during the last week of the [[2024 NFL season|2024 NFL regular season]]. The [[2025 NHL Stadium Series|2025 Stadium Series]] will be on ESPN instead of ABC. With the [[NHL 4 Nations Face-Off]] tournament replacing the All-Star Game this season, the NHL decided to split it between TNT, ABC, and ESPN: TNT will have the round-robin games on February 12 and 17, ABC/ESPN+ will air the February 15 round-robin doubleheader, and ESPN will air the United States–Finland game and the final.<ref name="2024–25 schedule">{{cite press release|title=The Walt Disney Company Announces 100 Exclusive National Hockey League Games Across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+, ABC and Hulu Beginning October 8|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2024/08/the-walt-disney-company-announces-100-exclusive-national-hockey-league-games-across-espn-espn2-espn-abc-and-hulu-beginning-october-8/|website=ESPN Press Room|date=August 29, 2024|access-date=August 29, 2024}}</ref> On October 8, color commentator Ray Ferraro called two games of an opening night tripleheader: the [[2024–25 St. Louis Blues season|St. Louis Blues]] at the [[2024–25 Seattle Kraken season|Seattle Kraken]], and the [[2024–25 Chicago Blackhawks season|Chicago Blackhawks]] at the [[2024–25 Utah Hockey Club season|Utah Hockey Club]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=Transcript: 2024 NHL Opening Night Media Conference Call|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2024/10/transcript-2024-nhl-opening-night-media-conference-call/|website=ESPN Press Room|date=October 3, 2024|access-date=October 5, 2024}}</ref>

== Alternate broadcasts ==
{{See also|ESPN Megacast}}
Since the beginning of ESPN's current NHL contract, the network has occasionally presented alternate broadcasts of games on ESPN+, including "Star Watch" (which featured camera angles focused on specific star players),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bruins fans can get unique view of Brad Marchand against Penguins and Sidney Crosby |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/unique-view-brad-marchand-sidney-crosby-espn-star-watch/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=CBS News Boston |date=November 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> "IceCast" (which featured a higher camera angle and on-screen statistics),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-24 |title=MLB's streaming deals stick it to RSNs, but fans hurt even more |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/3/24/22994898/mlb-streaming-deals-apple-tv-peacock-nbc-comcast-rsn-marquee-sports-network-nbc-sports-chicago |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref> and "All-12" (an alternate camera angle of the entire ice during the [[2023 NHL Stadium Series]] game, inspired by ESPN's "All-22" feeds for college football).<ref>{{Cite web |author1=R. Thomas Umstead |date=2023-02-17 |title=ABC, ESPN Take NHL Coverage Outdoors With Stadium Series Telecast |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/abc-espn-take-nhl-coverage-outdoors-with-stadium-series-telecast |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=Multichannel News |language=en}}</ref> In a similar approach to the [[FoxTrax]] glowing puck from the '90s, ESPN produced a "Puck Possessor" visual identifier altcast for select ABC games. This broadcast, which takes the main feed and focuses on who has the puck during games, is broadcast on ESPN+, along with the traditional ABC broadcast.

On March 14, 2023, ESPN presented an alternate youth-oriented broadcast of that night's [[Capitals–Rangers rivalry|Washington Capitals–New York Rangers]] game known as the ''NHL Big City Greens Classic'', simulcast on [[Disney Channel]], [[Disney XD]], [[Disney+]] and [[ESPN+]];<ref>{{Cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=2023-02-14 |title=Disney Will Animate ESPN Coverage for Disney Channel to Get Kids Into Hockey |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/disney-espn-animated-nhl-hockey-big-city-greens-1235522327/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> the broadcast leveraged the league's player and puck tracking system to render a real-time [[Computer animation|3D animated]] perspective of the game based on the Disney Channel animated series ''[[Big City Greens]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rangers, Capitals in 'Big City Greens' Classic on ESPN, Disney Channel |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/new-york-washington-to-play-in-big-city-greens-classic-on-espn-disney-channel/c-341043372 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=NHL.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

On October 24, 2023, ESPN+ and ESPN2 aired ''Frozen Frenzy'', a whiparound broadcast (similar to [[NFL RedZone]]) carrying live look-ins on all games occurring that night. All 32 NHL teams played games that night, with all games having staggered start times, and a tripleheader on ESPN.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lucia |first=Joe |date=2023-10-04 |title=ESPN debuting NHL whip-around show 'Frozen Frenzy' on October 24 |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nhl/espn-nhl-whiparound-show-frozen-frenzy-october-24.html |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-25 |title=A review of 'Frozen Frenzy' — the NHL's answer to NFL RedZone |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/a-review-of-frozen-frenzy--the-nhls-answer-to-nfl-redzone-044550643.html |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-CA}}</ref>

ESPN brought back the ''NHL Big City Greens Classic'' for the March 9, 2024 broadcast of that day's Pittsburgh Penguins-Boston Bruins game, the second half of an [[NHL on ABC|ABC Hockey Saturday]] doubleheader. Like the Capitals-Rangers game last year, this broadcast was simulcast on [[Disney Channel]], [[Disney XD]], [[Disney+]] and [[ESPN+]], and featured the same real-time 3D animated perspective based on ''Big City Greens''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coryell |first=Olivia |date=2024-02-16 |title=ESPN, Disney Branded Television and National Hockey League Skate Back to Big City in Second "NHL Big City Greens Classic" |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2024/02/nhl-big-city-greens-classic-2/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DiCristoforo |first=Andrea |date=2024-03-04 |title="NHL Big City Greens Classic 2" Headlines Four Exclusive NHL Games this Week on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+/Hulu |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2024/03/nhl-big-city-greens-classic-2-headlines-four-exclusive-nhl-games-this-week-on-abc-espn-and-espn-hulu/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}}</ref>

==On-air staff==
{{main|List of NHL on ESPN personalities}}

===Current personalities===
==== Studio hosts ====
# [[Steve Levy]]: studio host (1993–2004), lead studio host and alternate "The Point" host (2021–present), play-by-play (1993–2004, 2021–present)<ref name=":4b">{{Cite web|date=June 29, 2021|title=McDonough gets lead NHL gig on ESPN|url=https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2021/06/sean-mcdonough-nhl-espn-lead-voice-steve-levy/|access-date=August 11, 2021|website=[[Sports Media Watch]]}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|title=McDonough, Levy to lead ESPN's team for NHL coverage|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2021/06/29/mcdonough-levy-to-lead-espns-team-for-nhl-coverage/117327944/|access-date=August 11, 2021|website=[[USA TODAY]]}}</ref><ref name=":24">{{Cite web|date=June 29, 2021|title=Dynamic, Diverse and Accomplished Team to Present ESPN's NHL Coverage to Fans|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/?p=216400|access-date=June 29, 2021|website=ESPN Press Room U.S.}}</ref>
# [[John Buccigross]]: alternate studio host (1998–2004, 2021–present), "The Point" host and play-by-play (2021–present)
# [[Arda Ocal]]: alternate studio and "The Point" host (2021–present); rinkside reporter (2024–present)
# [[Leah Hextall]]: #2 rinkside reporter (2021–present); alternate studio host (2024–present); play-by-play (2021–2023)

====The Point hosts====
# [[John Buccigross]]: alternate studio host (1998–2004, 2021–present), "The Point" host and play-by-play (2021–present)
# [[Arda Ocal]]: alternate studio and "The Point" host (2021–present); rinkside reporter (2024–present)
# [[Steve Levy]]: lead studio host and alternate "The Point" host (2021–present), play-by-play (1993–2004, 2021–present) <ref name=":4b"/><ref name=":6"/><ref name=":24"/>

====Studio analysts====
# [[Mark Messier]]: lead studio analyst/color commentator (2021–present)<ref name="Gardner"/><ref>{{Cite web|date=June 24, 2021|title=NHL great Messier joins ESPN as studio analyst|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/31702318/mark-messier-joins-espn-studio-analyst-nhl-coverage|access-date=June 24, 2021|website=ESPN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ciccotelli|first=Jenna|title=Mark Messier Joining ESPN as NHL Studio Analyst Starting with 2021-22 Season|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2945146-mark-messier-joining-espn-as-nhl-studio-analyst-starting-with-2021-22-season|access-date=June 24, 2021|website=[[Bleacher Report]]}}</ref>
# [[P. K. Subban]]: lead studio analyst/color commentator (2022–present)
# [[Kevin Weekes]]: color commentator, rinkside reporter, studio analyst, and insider (2021–present)
# [[Ryan Callahan]]: color commentator/ice-level analyst/studio analyst (2021–present)
# [[A. J. Mleczko]]: color commentator/ice-level analyst/studio analyst (2021–present)
# [[Ray Ferraro]]: studio analyst (2002–2004, 2024–present), lead ice-level analyst (2021–present)<ref name=":8">{{Cite news|author=The Athletic Staff|title=Ray Ferraro and Brian Boucher to join ESPN as NHL analysts: Sources|url=https://theathletic.com/news/ray-ferraro-and-brian-boucher-to-join-espn-as-nhl-analysts-sources/Sql74742jB6L|access-date=July 13, 2021|website=[[The Athletic]]}}</ref><ref name=":10" />
# [[Meghan Chayka]]: analytics and draft expert (2022–present)

==== Play-by-play ====
# [[Sean McDonough]]: play-by-play (1993–1994, 1999–2000, 2002–2004), lead play-by-play (2021–present)<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":24" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Sean McDonough to lead ESPN's NHL coverage|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/media/2021/06/29/sean-mcdonough-espn-nhl-coverage-deal/|access-date=August 11, 2021|website=www.Boston.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=June 29, 2021|title=ESPN Announces Its No. 1 Announcer For The NHL|url=https://thespun.com/more/sports-media/nhl-espn-contract-sean-mcdonough-top-play-by-play-announcer-roster-mark-messier-steve-levy|access-date=August 11, 2021|website=The Spun}}</ref>
# [[Bob Wischusen]]: #2 play-by-play (2021–present)
# [[Mike Monaco]]: #3 play-by-play (2022–present)
# [[Steve Levy]]: studio host (1993–2004), lead studio host, alternate "The Point", and "In the Crease" host (2021–present), #4 play-by-play (1993–2004, 2021–present) <ref name=":4b"/><ref name=":6"/><ref name=":24"/>
# [[John Buccigross]]: alternate studio host (1998–2004, 2021–present), "The Point" host, and #5 play-by-play (2021–present)
# [[Roxy Bernstein]]: play-by-play (2022–present)
# [[Drew Carter (sportscaster)|Drew Carter]]: NHL [[Big City Greens]] Classic play-by-play (2023–present)

==== [[Color commentator]]s (booth and ice-level)====
# [[Ray Ferraro]]: studio analyst (2002–2004, 2024–present), lead color commentator/ice-level analyst (2021–present)<ref name=":8"/><ref name=":10" />
# [[Ryan Callahan]]: color commentator/ice-level analyst/studio analyst (2021–present); #2 color commentator (2024–present)
# [[A. J. Mleczko]]: #3 color commentator/studio analyst (2021–present)
# [[Kevin Weekes]]: color commentator, rinkside reporter, studio analyst, insider, and ''[[The Point (2021 TV series)|The Point]]'' host (2021–present)
# [[Cassie Campbell|Cassie Campbell-Pascall]]: color commentator (2021–present)
# [[Mark Messier]]: lead studio analyst/color commentator (2021–present)
# [[P. K. Subban]]: lead studio analyst/color commentator (2022–present)

==== Rinkside reporters ====
# [[Emily Kaplan]]: insider and lead rinkside reporter (2021–present)
# [[Leah Hextall]]: #2 rinkside reporter (2021–present); alternate studio host (2024–present); play-by-play (2021–2023)
# [[Kevin Weekes]]: color commentator, rinkside reporter, studio analyst, and insider (2021–present)
# [[Blake Bolden]]: contributor (2022–present); rinkside reporter (2023–present)
# [[Arda Ocal]]: alternate studio and "The Point" host (2021–present); rinkside reporter (2024–present)
# [[Stormy Buonantony]]: rinkside reporter (2024–present)

==== Rules analyst ====
# [[Dave Jackson (ice hockey)|Dave Jackson]] – rules analyst (2021–present)<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 3, 2021|title=Referee Dave Jackson Joins ESPN NHL Broadcast Team|url=https://scoutingtherefs.com/2021/10/32119/referee-dave-jackson-joins-espn-nhl-broadcast-team/|access-date=October 7, 2021|website=Scouting The Refs|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |last=Johnston |first=Patrick |user=risingaction |number=1444030788224229378 |date=October 1, 2021 |title=ESPN adding a rules analyst in retired ref Dave Jackson. TSN of course had Kerry Fraser in the past. Sportsnet should have done so years ago. https://t.co/UauTkdMz20 |language=en |access-date=October 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013190837/https://twitter.com/risingaction/status/1444030788224229378 |archive-date=October 13, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Insiders ====
# [[Emily Kaplan]]: insider and lead rinkside reporter (2021–present)
# [[Greg Wyshynski]]: insider (2021–present)
# [[Kevin Weekes]]: color commentator, rinkside reporter, studio analyst, insider, fill-in studio, and "The Point" host (2021–present)

==Ratings==
{{main|Ratings for The NHL on ESPN}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Event
!Date
!Network
!Viewers
|-
|rowspan=4|[[2021–22 NHL season|2021-22]]
|[[2021 NHL Expansion Draft|NHL Expansion Draft]]
|July 21, 2021
|rowspan=2|[[ESPN2]]
|637,000
|-
|[[2021 NHL Entry Draft|NHL Draft]]
|July 23, 2021
|268,000
|-
|[[2021–22 Pittsburgh Penguins season|Penguins]] vs [[2021–22 Tampa Bay Lightning season|Lightning]]
|rowspan=2|October 12, 2021
|rowspan=2|[[ESPN]]
|983,000<ref>{{cite news |last=Bucholtz|first=Andrew|date=October 13, 2021|title=NHL on ESPN opening night was the most-watched season-opening doubleheader on record|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/nhl-on-espn-opening-night-most-watched.html|work=Awful Announcing|location= }}</ref>
|-
|[[2021–22 Seattle Kraken season|Kraken]] vs [[2021–22 Vegas Golden Knights season|Golden Knights]]
|783,000
|-
|}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* {{official website|https://www.espn.com/nhl/}}

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{{succession box|before=[[NHL on USA|USA Network]]| title=NHL pay television carrier in the United States| years=[[1985–86 NHL season|1985]]–[[1987–88 NHL season|1988]]| after=[[NHL on SportsChannel America|SportsChannel America]]}}
{{succession box|before=[[NHL on SportsChannel America|SportsChannel America]]| title=NHL pay television carrier in the United States| years=[[1992–93 NHL season|1992]]–[[2003–04 NHL season|2004]]| after=[[NHL on Versus|OLN/Versus]]/[[NHL on NBC|NBCSN]]}}
{{succession box|before=[[NHL on Versus|OLN/Versus]]/[[NHL on NBC|NBCSN]]| title=NHL pay television carrier (with [[NHL on TNT|TNT]]) in the United States| years=[[2021–22 NHL season|2021]]–present| after= '''incumbent'''}}
{{s-end}}
{{National Hockey League on national television}}
{{ESPN}}
{{ESPN original programming}}
{{NHL on ESPN}}
{{NHL on ABC}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nhl On Espn}}
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