ESPN Embarrasses the NHL With Recent Display

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Wade Messier
July 30, 2023 (10:16 PM)

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It's no secret that the NHL's history with ESPN has been rocky, much like an ex that you've now gotten back together with. They're trying to make it work again, but the problems that ended it the first time around are still there.

ESPN Mocks NHL

The NHL struggled greatly this season to earn time slots on ESPN's first channel, which garners heaps of viewers daily. A chance to promote the league on that channel would do wonders for the game but never materialized despite the two having an exclusive contract.

Just recently, ESPN has turned to sports such as pickleball to fill in time slots on their first channel, which is a massive slap in the face to hockey fans who waited patiently for their turn on the big screen.

While ESPN regularly overlooked NHL hockey, they were all too happy to give a platform to the Professional Pickleball Association, which is actually a real thing.

In For the Long Haul

If you're upset about this, you might want to take a deep breath because it doesn't get any better. With the NHL's current deal with ESPN extending through the 2027-28 season, fans can expect at least five more seasons filled with antics like this from ESPN.

While the NHL has shown time and time again that the sport of hockey can be successfully marketed toward large audiences, ESPN continually overlooks them for more popular sports such as Football and Basketball. Most people can make a valid argument for broadcasting either of those two sports over hockey, but pickleball?

Something needs to change, fast.

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