The NHL's broadcasting schedule for the upcoming season has been released, and four Canadian teams — Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets — will not have a single nationally-televised regular season game shown on TV in the United States. The Vancouver Canucks will only have two, while the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs will have the lion's share between them, with 18 and 11 games respectively being shown.
Though it's obvious that American networks showing NHL games would prioritize American teams, it's still disappointing that most Canadian NHL clubs aren't getting a single game shown nationwide in the States this season unless they literally have one of the league's biggest stars.
For example, American fans won't get to watch Cole Caufield for the Habs, nor will they get to see Brady Tkachuk for the Sens or Kyle Connor and Connor Hellebuyck (if the latter doesn't leave Winnipeg) for the Jets. As things stand, certain American stars in this league won't get to be seen by their own country's fans.
Even if the Montreal-Toronto rivalry or the Battle of Alberta may generate bigger ratings in Canada, they're still among the best types of games to watch in the entire NHL. It's hard not to feel as if Gary Bettman's history of favouring American clubs over Canadian ones plays a role here, either. All the more reason for Canadian fans to keep booing him, we suppose!
