Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect an extra Calgary Flames game on TNT (28), the removal of HNIC from the feed (17), an additional Ottawa game (22), and an extra Winnipeg game (23).
TNT gives the U.S. audience an all-Canadian matchup with the Vancouver Canucks in Calgary (14). The U.S. network had an all-Canadian game last season and gave that to John Forslund. Hoping not to have a repeat of that assignment. Edmonton travels to Dallas (21) in a matchup where ESPN was so fascinated, that network carried both Oilers games in Dallas but couldn't set foot in Edmonton.
ESPN had a game involving a Canadian team in November but is dark in December.
NHL Network has some Hockey Night in Canada love with Toronto Maple Leafs road games in Dave Randorf country (3) and the U.S. capital (17). The U.S. channel also some HNIC love for the rematch of the 1993 Stanley Cup finals at the Bell Centre (10).
The Ottawa Senators are involved in the other NHL Network game with a Showcase game in Minnesota (18).
ESPN+/Hulu went from 1 game in October to 0 in November to 3 in December. The U.S. network is still afraid to come to Canada but is willing to show the Edmonton Oilers on the road in Minnesota (1) and Seattle (30). The U.S. network loves to show Canadian teams in Dallas, proving so with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third-largest city in Texas (6).
Rogers Sportsnet is keeping the Toronto Maple Leafs to itself on December 3. As we've noted, Sportsnet does this on occasion to boost its Sportsnet NOW subscriptions. The Maple Leafs will likely struggle in western Florida that night while CBC shows the high-flying scoring of Montréal at Edmonton. If I were glued to the couch in Canada, watching the Habs and Oilers would be more fun.
CBC and Citytv are not showing Hockey Night in Canada on December 31. The networks are carrying New Year's Eve programming. The games are available on various Sportsnet channels.
The NHL will take a holiday break from December 24-26.
TNT
December 14
Vancouver @ Calgary, 10p
December 21
Edmonton @ Dallas, 9:30p
December 28
Calgary @ Seattle, 10p
NHL Network
December 3
Toronto @ Tampa Bay, 7p (HNIC)
December 10
Los Angeles @ Montréal, 7p (HNIC)
December 17
Toronto @ Washington, 7p (HNIC)
December 18
Ottawa @ Minnesota, 2p (Showcase)
December 22
Washington @ Ottawa, 7p
December 23
Winnipeg @ Washington, 7p
ESPN+/Hulu
December 1
Edmonton @ Minnesota, 8p
December 6
Toronto @ Dallas, 8:30p
December 30
Edmonton @ Seattle, 10p
Hockey Night in Canada
December 3
Toronto @ Tampa Bay, 7p/Montréal @ Edmonton, 7p/San Jose @ Ottawa, 7p/Washington @ Calgary, 10p/Arizona @ Vancouver, 10p
December 10
Calgary @ Toronto, 7p/Los Angeles @ Montréal, 7p/Minnesota @ Vancouver, 10p
December 17
Toronto @ Washington, 7p/Tampa Bay @ Montréal, 7p/Winnipeg @ Vancouver, 10p
December 31
Montréal @ Washington, 4p/Toronto @ Colorado, 7p/Ottawa @ Detroit, 7p/Winnipeg @ Edmonton, 10p/Vancouver @ Calgary, 10p
Rogers Sportsnet national telecasts
December 1 Edmonton @ Minnesota, 8p
December 5 Washington @ Edmonton, 8:30p/Arizona @ Calgary, 9p
December 7 Minnesota @ Calgary, 8p/Arizona @ Edmonton, 9:30p
December 9 Minnesota @ Edmonton, 9p
December 12 Calgary @ Montréal, 7p/Edmonton @ Minnesota, 8p
December 14 Montréal @ Ottawa, 7p/Vancouver @ Calgary, 10p
December 16 St. Louis @ Calgary, 9p
December 17 Anaheim @ Edmonton, 4p
December 19 Edmonton @ Nashville, 8p
December 21 Montréal @ Colorado, 8p/Edmonton @ Dallas, 9:30p
December 23 Vancouver @ Edmonton, 9p/Calgary @ Anaheim, 10:30p
December 27 Edmonton @ Calgary, 9p
December 28 Montréal @ Tampa Bay, 7p
💙. @MapleLeafs #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/QwaBkt9D2K
— Martina Ortiz Luis (@itzmartinaol) October 7, 2022
The start of Toronto Maple Leafs games feels very different without Martina Ortiz Luis singing O Canada at Scotiabank Arena.
We've seen Luis on Wynonna Earp so we know she has more ambitions than just anthem singing. Her inflections on O Canada was beautiful and truly unique. Good luck to Martina Ortiz Luis in her career.
Convoy wants to act out but has no purpose or solutions
Confederation Line expands light-rail service in Ottawa
Ryan Reynolds would need a sugar daddy or sugar mama, in his words, to be a part of the ownership of the Ottawa Senators. The challenge is intriguing. The Canadian actor is part owner (with Rob McElhenney) of Wrexham AFC in Wales, a team in the lowest level of professional football in England. Their ownership is featured in Welcome to Wrexham.
The hope is that new ownership would be tied to a deal for a new Ottawa-based arena at LeBreton Flats. There may be fewer people working in downtown Ottawa these days but a downtown arena will do wonders for the Ottawa-Gatineau area.
That said, the light rail system in the capital of Canada needs more diligence, time, money, and effort.
Rogers Sportsnet will carry all 3 versions of the Battle of Alberta on a national basis in Canada. The fact that there are only 3 games involving these exciting rivals is a true shame, especially after such an amazing playoff series this spring.
Other than the all-Canada division of 2021, the U.S. outlets have shown Connor McDavid type speed to avoid broadcasting the Battle of Alberta. So we can't be surprised that TNT and ESPN showed no interest in carrying any of those games. TNT is willing to come to Canada while ESPN still hasn't been on Canadian soil. The NHL Network also came up empty (again) in not showing this rivalry.
ESPN hasn't shown Calgary anywhere but does have 2 Flames games scheduled this year.
U.S. fans should note that December 27 is the final Battle of Alberta game. ESPN+ will have the game via the Rogers Sportsnet feed.
Canadian ads from fall 2022 NHL Center Ice free preview
"(Ottawa GM Pierre) Dorion’s worked hard to see what’s out there, and I believe he’s come across two challenges. One is that he’s dealing from position of weakness and teams are trying to hijack him. Two is that there are plenty of players who can block a trade to Canada, and it’s possible that’s happened. It’s not an Ottawa issue, but a Canada issue."
Elliotte Friedman said what was in our minds. We thought the end of the primary portion of the pandemic meant Canada was a slightly more desirable destination.
Higher tax rates, though paid in American dollars. Pressure-filled markets and media coverage. Snow and lots of it. More customs experiences.
This spring marks the 30th anniversary of the Stanley Cup being presented to a Canadian team: Montréal Canadiens in 1993.
Players want to win the Stanley Cup. They will play in Canada if they think that team will win the Stanley Cup. Think of the significant number of NHL players who weren't alive when the Habs won the Cup or not old enough to remember.
Thank you for all of your support! We had a great time on @hockeynight
— TRIUMPH (@TriumphTheBand) November 15, 2022
Miss the broadcast? Watch now: https://t.co/f9qeDt3oPE
The guys from Triumph hosted the Hockey Night in Canada intro on November 12, which was the Hockey Hall of Fame induction weekend. Triumph has a documentary out called Triumph: Rock and Roll Machine. We will have a review some point soon. Worth a watch to learn some Canadian music history.
Harnarayan Singh has been the primary fill-in for Rick Ball on Calgary Flames telecasts on Rogers Sportsnet West while Ball is out with a pulmonary embolism. John Bartlett also stepped up for some Flames games out east.
Ball disclosed the story behind his health scare: caused by a broken leg he sustained chasing a bird at a golf tournament.
He returned on November 12 on Hockey Night in Canada, his first game since the first game of the season. He is also doing road games, which is a bit of a surprise. As we said last month, our thoughts go out to Ball, his family, and friends during his continuing recovery.
Ball also made a trip to After Hours to talk with Scott Oake and give thanks to all the well wishing people.
NHL the month in preview November 2022
Speaking of After Hours, Scott Oake had a special co-host in Las Vegas last Saturday. Gary Lawless was a journalist covering the Winnipeg Jets before the Golden Knights hired him. The After Hours co-hosts haven't had journalism experience such as what Oake has, but the co-hosts aren't employed by the team whose player and coach appear on the show.
I get the whole deal with Lawless being on while Oake is in Las Vegas, but Lawless being employed by the team should be disclosed.
If Scott Oake had Sara Orlesky on after a Winnipeg Jets game, her employment status should be disclosed. When you have former journalists and the implication is that they are a journalist, that dispels actual journalism. This may seem a matter of semantics but as lines blur, disclosure is paramount.
NHL the month in preview October 2022
Welcome to San Jose, Tara!
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) November 22, 2022
We’ve signed @TaraSlone as our newest content contributor🎙🦈
Learn more about Tara ➡️ https://t.co/EVvgFLMm1W pic.twitter.com/6tqEwrqObL
Tara Slone landed on her feet in the South Bay with the San Jose Sharks in a content position similar to what Sara Orlesky is doing with the Winnipeg Jets. The former Hometown Hockey host was let go when Rogers cancelled the show over the summer.
Sharks fans and South Bay residents should hope Slone ends up in a bar playing music. Slone was the lead singer of Joydrop and has had a solo music career.
Her music cred came in handy when having bands on Hometown Hockey. Sorry that the show was gone and glad she found a good NHL opportunity. Hard to imagine a kitchen party in San Jose but here's to trying.
2022 NHL preseason schedule
Our guide to the NHL Canadian teams coverage
ESPN signed recently retired defenseman P.K. Subban to their coverage. Subban will work primarily as a studio analyst and also work as an occasional in-game analyst.
Subban has charisma that will take him far in a broadcasting career. ESPN is smart to have him start out mostly in the studio to get more experience.
Tracking the NHL 2022 media changes
November 6 Toronto vs. Carolina, 5p Mike Monaco/Brian Boucher/AJ Mleczko ESPN
November 8 Edmonton @ Tampa Bay, 7:30p Dave Randorf/Shane Hnidy/Nabil Karim TNT
November 12 Ottawa @ Philadelphia, 1p Stephen Nelson/Mike Rupp NHL Network
November 16 Los Angeles @ Edmonton, 10p Kenny Albert/Eddie Olczyk/Keith Jones TNT
November 19 New Jersey @ Ottawa, 1p Stephen Nelson/Kevin Weekes NHL Network
November 23 Ottawa @ Las Vegas, 10p Alex Faust/Shane Hnidy/Jackie Redmond TNT
November 26 Edmonton @ NY Rangers, 1p E.J. Hradek/Kevin Weekes NHL Network
November 30 Edmonton @ Chicago, 9:30p Kenny Albert/Eddie Olczyk/Keith Jones TNT
TNT got smart and brought in Dave Randorf. This was in part because Randorf covers what was the home team (8). Still, Randorf understands the idea of a national telecast, a difficult task at times for some U.S. national announcers.
Randorf is one of the few announcers who has called a national game in Canada and the United States.
ESPN had audio issues with AJ Mleczko at ice level. Unfortunately, we could hear Brian Boucher just fine. ESPN should work harder to have Ray Ferraro on the few games they cover with Canadian based teams.
The TNT primary crew was in Edmonton on November 16. Olczyk is now on the West Coast so being out west isn't a stretch. Albert, Olczyk, and Jones are good announcers to have in a dog game and that game (16) was a dog.
I liked the days of Mark Lee and Kevin Weekes calling games so having Weekes on a showcase game is great. Stephen Nelson is growing on your humble narrator and has an edge over E.J. Hradek.
Shane Hnidy, former Winnipeg Jets analyst on TSN3, called 2 games on TNT, the latter involving his current employer. Randorf and Hnidy are good guys but looks bad to have them work games with their present employer in a national telecast.
CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage
We decided to include the October 15 games since they appeared on the NHL Center Ice free preview.
The Sunday night block is defined as Heartland, Great Canadian Baking Show, and Moonshine. The Buzzr is a CBC Sports newsletter. My Life as a Rolling Stone: Sixty Years of Rock and Roll is only on CBC Gem.
Good to get some love for Season 2 of Sort Of in the CBC promos on CBC and CBC Gem.
The October 15 (early game) Family Feud Canada promo aired before the start of the 2nd period. The October 15 (late game) The National promo aired before the start of the 3rd period. The November 5 curling promo aired before the start of the 3rd period, which is a technical violation. Promos are supposed to run during game action. We know this game went fast but Rogers Sportsnet is supposed to air 6 promos, not 5.
The November 26 game also only had 5 promos. They had plenty of time and opportunities to get in that 6th promo but made other decisions.
The November 12 game was via the Citytv feed, not CBC.
October 15 early game: Fakes; The Buzzer (1st); Family Feud Canada; Sunday night block (2nd); The National; Summit '72 (3rd)
October 15 late game: Fakes; The Buzzer (1st); Family Feud Canada; Sunday night block (2nd); The National; Summit '72 (3rd)
October 29 early game: Sunday night block (1st); Summit '72; The National; Moonshine; Skate Canada International (2nd); Great Canadian Baking Show (3rd)
November 5 early game: Moonshine; Sort Of (1st); Great Canadian Baking Show (2nd); Mixed Doubles Curling Super Series; Sunday night block (3rd)
November 26 early game: My Life as a Rolling Stone: Sixty Years of Rock and Roll; The Fifth Estate (1st); Marketplace; Soccer North (2nd); Sort Of (3rd)
photo credit: NHL; Rogers Sportsnet/NHL
Twitter captures: @itzmartinaol; @TriumphTheBand; @SanJoseSharks
video credit: Rogers Sportsnet/NHL
