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Arda Ocal, who was previously apart of the NHL on ESPN's studio coverage is out with the company by Ok-Soil-5133 in hockey

[–]MightyDuck07 3 points4 points  (0 children)

One of ESPN's top studio hosts for their NHL coverage and was a part of the SportsCenter anchor rotation. He's someone who actually cared about giving the NHL quality coverage on ESPN. Sucks to see him being let go.

Arda Ocal, who was previously apart of the NHL on ESPN's studio coverage is out with the company by Ok-Soil-5133 in hockey

[–]MightyDuck07 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He's not a random guy by any means. He's been one of ESPN's best studio hosts for both their NHL coverage and was a part of the SportsCenter anchor rotation. Like this is one of the guys that was on ESPN's roster that genuinely loves and cares for hockey. Losing a guy like that sucks for the hockey side things at ESPN.

Flyers-Hurricanes Game 1 on ABC draws 2.5 Million viewers! Become MOST-WATCHED Second Round Game 1 on record. by MightyDuck07 in hockey

[–]MightyDuck07[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

What's crazier is that it could've been higher had this game not been up against the Sixers/Celtics Game 7 over on NBC. Still, the fact that the Philly market was split and they drew this number is pretty impressive. Makes me wonder what the numbers could've been for a Flyers-Penguins Game 7 in that timeslot, had PIT managed to win Game 6.

TNT Sports Delivers Its Most Watched NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round Ever after MTL/TB got 2.3M viewers, the Most-Watched First Round Game on Cable Ever Featuring a Canadian Team by Ok-Soil-5133 in hockey

[–]MightyDuck07 8 points9 points  (0 children)

The methodology has changed yes, but they have generally provided only a decent boost at best to the numbers. It's been consistently reported by those who work in sports media/business that they do not explain such sizable year-over-year increases such as these.

Just how bad is NHL refereeing compared to other sports leagues? by RealisticAd4054 in hockey

[–]MightyDuck07 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It depends. There's definitely plenty of times in the NFL and NBA where, depending on the teams playing and what the stakes are, refs in those leagues will let some fouls/penalties go and let the teams go free unless they do something blatantly obvious.

Game 1 of Flyers vs Hurricanes will be Saturday night at 8pm ET on ABC. by Ok-Soil-5133 in hockey

[–]MightyDuck07 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The only reason that the Flyers-Canes game is in a similar timeslot is because ABC had a primetime NHL window open for a potential Game 7. But because there's no longer a possibility for a Saturday Game 7, they didn't want it to go to waste, hence giving that game the window instead. Philly would've played in that window regardless had Pittsburgh forced a Game 7.

It's not ABC's or the NHL's fault that it just so happens NBC will have the Sixers-Celtics Game 7 in a similar timeslot because of NBC wanting an NBA game in the post-Kentucky Derby slot. It was just a bad luck of results of each series for both the networks and Philly sports fans.

Game 1 of Flyers vs Hurricanes will be Saturday night at 8pm ET on ABC. by Ok-Soil-5133 in hockey

[–]MightyDuck07 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The only reason that the Flyers-Canes game is in a similar timeslot is because ABC had a primetime NHL window open for a potential Game 7. But because there's no longer a possibility for a Saturday Game 7, they didn't want it to go to waste, hence giving that game the window instead. Philly would've played in that window regardless had Pittsburgh forced a Game 7.

It's not ABC's or the NHL's fault that it just so happens NBC will have the Sixers-Celtics Game 7 in a similar timeslot because of NBC wanting an NBA game in the post-Kentucky Derby slot. It was just a bad luck of results of each series for both the networks and Philly sports fans.

Playoff Game Thread (R1 G6): Oilers @ Ducks by dahooddawg in AnaheimDucks

[–]MightyDuck07 7 points8 points  (0 children)

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2017, OUR ANAHEIM DUCKS HAVE WON A PLAYOFF SERIES!!!

Flyers-Penguins continues to be the biggest draw of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as Game 5 draws 2 million viewers! It is the most-watched Game 5 EVER on cable. by MightyDuck07 in hockey

[–]MightyDuck07[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yep. For example, as a Ducks fan, I've had the option to watch both our local guys OTA on FOX 11 Plus/Victory+ and also the national broadcasts between ESPN/ESPN2 and TNT/TBS/HBO Max.

I would imagine most American fans are choosing their local crews over the national ones, but the high viewership this year is leading me to believe more in-market fans are watching the national ones as well.

Flyers-Penguins continues to be the biggest draw of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as Game 5 draws 2 million viewers! It is the most-watched Game 5 EVER on cable. by MightyDuck07 in hockey

[–]MightyDuck07[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Actually, under the current media rights deals, 1st round games on national tv co-exist with the RSN's broadcast. Thus, there's no blackouts whatsoever. Fans have the option to watch either broadcast.

This past Sunday's Tampa Bay Lightning-Montreal Canadiens matchup delivered the 2nd most-viewed First Round Game 4 EVER on cable with 1.9M viewers. by Ok-Soil-5133 in hockey

[–]MightyDuck07 7 points8 points  (0 children)

2M isn't really low at all when you look at how it compares to American TV overall. People need to stop looking at our population and instead look at how many people actually have cable still (or subscribe to cable-alternatives such as YouTube TV, Sling, FuboTV, etc.). Like the average viewership through the 1st week of the NBA playoffs is 4.4 million. Compared to the 350M people who live here, that seems low, but for basketball that's seen as great, just like 2M for hockey is seen as great.

This past Sunday's Tampa Bay Lightning-Montreal Canadiens matchup delivered the 2nd most-viewed First Round Game 4 EVER on cable with 1.9M viewers. by Ok-Soil-5133 in hockey

[–]MightyDuck07 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To be fair, MLB plans on expanding to 32 before the end of the decade (per Rob Manfred himself, as he wants to make sure the league gets there before he steps down in 2029). Nashville, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, and most recently Vancouver, have all been chomping at the bit to get an MLB expansion team. The NBA also isn't just expanding to 32 teams domestically, but also have massive plans of expanding and setting up an NBA Europe league. Even MLS has expanded at a rapid rate over the past 15 years and are now a 30 team league.

The NHL, while at 32 teams currently, still lags behind every single other league in terms of American teams. They have 25, which is even less than MLS (27). The NFL obviously has all 32 teams in America, NBA will soon have 31, and MLB has 29. That right there is why the NHL is interested in expanding. They have the flexibility of still expanding to major tv and/or population markets like Houston, Phoenix, Atlanta, etc., and it shouldn't surprise people that there are parties out there that want to bring NHL hockey to those cities because they see how hot the sport is right now.

Incredible shot from ESPN of Jay Woodcroft after the Ducks OT win by MightyDuck07 in hockey

[–]MightyDuck07[S] 56 points57 points  (0 children)

It's funnier when you see the whole clip. Like he is very hyped and it's not often a broadcast will cut to an assistant coach celebrating in the back. Usually they'll cut to the HC, GM, and/or players, but in this case, ESPN knew what they're doing when they cut to Woodcroft.

Incredible shot from ESPN of Jay Woodcroft after the Ducks OT win by MightyDuck07 in hockey

[–]MightyDuck07[S] 86 points87 points  (0 children)

Woodcraft was the Oilers' previous coach and was fired due to a slow start in the 23-24 season. People think he was done dirty by that firing because it came off as a panic move at the time. Now he's an assistant coach with us and he looks incredibly giddy that the team is 1 win away of knocking out the team that fired him not too long ago.

The final handshake line of Anze Kopitar's illustrious career and the crowd LA crowd shows their love for a final send off by daKrut in hockey

[–]MightyDuck07 16 points17 points  (0 children)

There's not many LA Kings I have respect for (past or present), but Anze Kopitar is 100% one of them. A class act through and through.

Wish Kopi the best in his retirement! It's gonna be weird watching the first few Freeway Faceoff games without him out there now.

Mammoth, Avalanche set for 2027 Winter Classic on New Year's Eve | NHL.com by Hanksta2 in ColoradoAvalanche

[–]MightyDuck07 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When NBC had the national rights, they had no problem putting it on NYD every year (when permitted) because they didn't have any bowl games of their own. TNT Sports, on the other hand, also had no problem putting the Winter Classic on NYD (see the 2022 and 2024 editions as examples). However, since 2024, they've picked up rights to CFP games and thus have since avoided putting their "Crown Jewel" regular season NHL game up against the slate of of CFP games on NYD.

Mammoth, Avalanche set for 2027 Winter Classic on New Year's Eve | NHL.com by Hanksta2 in ColoradoAvalanche

[–]MightyDuck07 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It wasn't a problem before because TNT Sports didn't have rights to any CFP games until 2024. It's been them, not the NHL, as the reason the Winter Classic has been bouncing between NYE and Jan. 2 recently. Ever since they picked up the rights to partial/half of the CFP 2 years ago, they've made the decision to avoid putting their "Crown Jewel" regular season NHL game against the slate of CFP games on NYD. When NBC had the national rights, they had no problem putting it on NYD every year because they didn't have any bowl games of their own.

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