TNT gives us the first half of the Chicago-Toronto season matchup from Scotiabank Arena (15).
The main ESPN network (23) gives us a rare Calgary Flames game (for them) at one of Gary Bettman's favourite desert teams (the one that has more than 5,000 home seats).
NHL Network knows this is the second half of the season where fewer games feature Canadian teams. Amazingly, the U.S. channel doesn't show a single Toronto game in February.
The channel rarely carries an all-Canadian matchup that doesn't involve the Maple Leafs. Yet Ottawa is at Montréal (25) on Hockey Night in Canada. The U.S. channel has an Edmonton home game with Boston on the itinerary (27).
ESPN+/Hulu gives us the second half of the Chicago-Toronto doubleheader from the Windy City (19) and follows the Maple Leafs to Buffalo 2 days later (21). The U.S. outlet also has Connor McDavid in the Motor City (7) and Denver (19).
ABC starts carrying Saturday afternoon games, none involving Canadian teams, after the All-Star Game break.
The NHL All-Star Game break runs through February 5 with games starting back on Monday. There is a U.S. outdoor game on February 18; the league loves to schedule the Habs and Leafs together when that happens.
TNT
February 15
Chicago @ Toronto, 7p
ESPN
February 23
Calgary @ Las Vegas, 9p
NHL Network
February 25
Ottawa @ Montréal, 7p (HNIC)
February 27
Boston @ Edmonton, 8:30p
ESPN+/Hulu
February 7
Edmonton @ Detroit, 7:30p
February 19
Edmonton @ Colorado, 3p/Toronto @ Chicago, 6p
February 21
Toronto @ Buffalo, 7:30p
Hockey Night in Canada
February 11
Columbus @ Toronto, 7p/Chicago @ Winnipeg, 10p
February 18
Montréal @ Toronto, 7p/NY Rangers @ Calgary, 10p/Philadelphia @ Vancouver, 10p
February 25
Ottawa @ Montréal, 7p/Boston @ Vancouver, 7p/Calgary @ Colorado, 10p
Rogers Sportsnet national telecasts
February 1 Boston @ Toronto, 7:30p
February 6 Vancouver @ New Jersey, 7:30p/Calgary @ NY Rangers, 7:30p
February 7 Edmonton @ Detroit, 7:30p
February 8 Vancouver @ NY Rangers, 8p
February 9 Calgary @ Detroit, 7p
February 11 Calgary @ Buffalo, 12:30p
February 13 Calgary @ Ottawa, 7:30p
February 15 Chicago @ Toronto, 7p/Detroit @ Edmonton, 9:30p
February 19 Edmonton @ Colorado, 3p
February 20 Philadelphia @ Calgary, 4p/Winnipeg @ NY Rangers, 7p
February 22 Winnipeg @ NY Islanders, 7p/Calgary @ Arizona, 9:30p
February 23 Edmonton @ Pittsburgh, 7p/Calgary @ Las Vegas, 9p
February 25 Edmonton @ Columbus, 12:30p
February 27 Boston @ Edmonton, 8:30p/Vancouver @ Dallas, 8:30p
February 28 Boston @ Calgary, 9p
Canucks fans continue to support embattled coach Bruce Boudreau with "Bruce there it is" chants at Rogers Arena.
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) January 22, 2023
🎥 @Sportsnetpic.twitter.com/NVyRj62ilx
The Vancouver Canucks waited hours after Hockey Day in Canada to announce what everyone knew: Rick Tocchet would replace Bruce Boudreau as head coach of the team. The crowd at the Edmonton-Vancouver game knew. Boudreau knew this was his last game but not officially. Most coaches who get fired get no warning. This was too much warning but not in a good way.
The way Canucks management handled this was a sad story to how things have been so poorly run of late. Jim Rutherford has a good reputation. Bruce Boudreau has an amazing reputation. How could things fall apart so quickly.
Bo Horvat could have been guided into staying with Vancouver by more competent management instead of being a lame duck in a Canucks sweater. The trade to the New York Islanders might benefit the Canucks in the long run but the loss of leadership looms large now.
Trent Cull also lost his job as an assistant coach. Adam Foote has been named an assistant coach and Sergei Gonchar has been hired as a defensive development coach.
Tocchet has coaching experience, mostly as an assistant coach. He did lead Tampa Bay from 2008–2010 and Arizona from 2017-2021. He spent the last year and a half on TNT studio coverage.
Tocchet, like Boudreau, can't play defence or get Thatcher Demko back in goal quickly. A coaching change is like changing the colour of a couch that is on fire.
As we alluded to last month, the unofficial is now official. The 2023 Heritage Classic will feature the Battle of Alberta at Commonwealth Stadium on October 29. That date is the day after the end of the CFL season. The Edmonton Elks home season ends 15 days before the NHL game.
The starting time is still to be announced. The original Heritage Classic was at night in Edmonton. As far north as Winnipeg and Regina (recent Heritage Classic sites) are, Edmonton is much further north so that would affect sunshine issues and sunsets.
The October 28 edition of Hockey Night in Canada won't feature either Alberta team so they can get ready for the Heritage Classic.
2022 NHL preseason schedule
Our guide to the NHL Canadian teams coverage
Really sad news about Ottawa Senators assistant coach Bob Jones being diagnosed with ALS. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and the entire Ottawa Senators organisation.
Canadian ads from fall 2022 NHL Center Ice free preview
Turns out there was a brief NHL Center Ice free preview running January 1-7. This was on a week where there were no Canadian teams on Monday or Wednesday. The free previews used to have a pattern compared to the random lack of pattern.
NHL the month in preview January 2023
NHL the month in preview December 2022
NHL the month in preview November 2022
NHL the month in preview October 2022
Gary Bettman says NHL teams do not tank. Connor Bedard would be that reason, if they did. Bedard was the World Juniors tournament MVP with 9 goals and 14 assists with 2 game-winning goals in only 7 games. Shane Wright scored a key goal on his birthday in the gold medal game for the Canada team in the World Juniors. Gord Miller pointed out that Halifax wouldn't have another long wait to host the tournament. Presumably, this also applies to Moncton, the co-host for the 2023 tournament.
Tracking the NHL 2022 media changes
January 11 Nashville @ Toronto, 7:30p Kenny Albert/Eddie Olczyk/Keith Jones TNT
January 12 Toronto @ Detroit, 7p Bob Wischusen/Ray Ferraro/Emily Kaplan ESPN
January 14 Calgary @ Dallas, 2p Stephen Nelson/Kevin Weekes NHL Network
January 19 Tampa Bay @ Edmonton, 9p John Buccigross/Ray Ferraro/Leah Hextall ESPN
January 23 Columbus @ Calgary, 9:30p John Buccigross/Ray Ferraro/Leah Hextall ESPN+/Hulu
January 25 NY Rangers @ Toronto, 7p Kenny Albert/Eddie Olczyk/Keith Jones TNT
January 25 Columbus @ Edmonton, 9:30p Brendan Burke/Darren Pang/Jennifer Botterill TNT
ESPN has listened to some of my pleas and had Ray Ferraro on all 3 of its games in January. 2 of them games were in Western Canada, the channel's only 2 regular season games in Canada. By the way, unless the schedule changes, ESPN and ESPN+/Hulu has no more games in Canada until the playoffs.
Stephen Nelson and Kevin Weekes are my top choices for a NHL Network crew. They got an exciting game involving the Calgary Flames.
We get where John Buccigross got a little too excited over the Columbus presence with Johnny Gaudreau in Calgary. That would be easier to take if ESPN weren't so reluctant to come to Canada.
TNT lost one of its studio people in Rick Tocchet when he took over as the Vancouver head coach. The only scheduled game TNT has left involving the Canucks is March 8 with a home game against Anaheim. Could be a fun reunion.
CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage
We had no bananas or CBC promos in December. January had all of that.
There were 3 Hockey Night in Canada games available. We have covered the new shows as well as CBC News Explore.
The first promo of the January 21 game ran before the beginning of the 2nd period, which is a technical violation. The CBC Docs promo was relevant since the content from the Jason Priestley directed film was about longtime Maple Leafs owner Harold Ballard.
We have complained when the CBC promos run after commercials yet running them after betting commercials is definitely worse.
January 7 early game: Run the Burbs; Bollywed (1st); Son of a Critch; National Skating Championships (2nd); Son of a Critch; Bollywed (3rd)
January 14 early game: National Skating Championships; Bollywed (1st); Son of a Critch; Run the Burbs; Bollywed (2nd); CBC News Explore (3rd)
January 21 early game: None (1st); CBC News Explore; Run the Burbs; CBC Docs [Offside: The Harold Ballard Story]; Canada's Ultimate Challenge (2nd); Bollywed; Son of a Critch (3rd)
photo credit: NHL; NHL
Twitter captures: @TheAthleticNHL
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.