Erik Johnson joins ESPN’s Stanley Cup Final coverage
Johnson will work the studio desk and conduct interviews alongside ESPN's on-site coverage team in Las Vegas.
Archives
Sean McDonough reveals he felt ‘inadequate’ during early days as ESPN’s lead NHL voice
"I better get better at this in a hurry."
Gary Bettman gives update on NHL media rights negotiations with ESPN, TNT
"While there have been some casual discussions ... we’re not at the point where we’re in firm negotiations."
Stanley Cup Game 1 starts with no broadcast audio in Indianapolis
The Hurricanes struck quickly in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final with fans in Indianapolis unable to hear the announcers.
NHL viewership maintains post-Olympic glow through conference finals
Viewership for the conference finals increased by nearly 50% year-over-year.
ESPN has a conference finals curse
Doc Emrick recalls Barry Melrose as ‘least predictable’ broadcast partner
"You've never worked with anyone like me."
Arda Öcal announces he’s been let go from ESPN
"10 years is a decent run."
NHL sees huge viewership increase during first round
First-round playoff viewership was up nearly 70% year-over-year.
NHL digital ad infiltrates man’s skull on ESPN broadcast
The NHL's digital ads have become commonplace, but seeing one pierce a man's skull during a playoff game is a new experience.
NHL regular-season viewership rebounds in big way, posts 14-year high
Incredibly, the league posted high marks, with a larger percentage of its national schedule airing on cable networks.
Gary Bettman endorses mixed approach for NHL local rights, no plans to centralize like MLB, NBA
"We're really doing all of the above."
NHL viewership up in first two weeks post-Olympics
However, it's too early to tell if an increase can be sustained.
NHL reportedly approaching ESPN, TNT Sports about early media rights renewals
The league would like to beat the NFL to market.
NHL Stadium Series doubles viewership of Winter Classic
If the NHL really wants the Winter Classic to be its crown jewel regular season event, finding a way to move it back to over-the-air TV may be the only way, short of changing the date of the game entirely.
ESPN hires Erik Johnson as NHL analyst
Stanley Cup champion and Team USA defenseman Erik Johnson will be an NHL game analyst for ESPN.
NHL Opening Night rebounds from last year’s lows
ESPN notched a 37% increase over last year.
Ryan Callahan stepping away from ESPN to spend time with family
"I'm going to miss working with all the great people there, but I wanted to spend more time with my young family."
T.J. Oshie joins ESPN as NHL analyst after retirement
Oshie is joining ESPN as an NHL analyst less than four months after retiring from a 16-year career with the Blues and Capitals.
ESPN MLB analyst Ben McDonald won’t be watching ESPN’s NHL Opening Night coverage
We'd love to be a fly on the wall for the phone call that Ben is about to get from an ESPN executive.
NHL is the beneficiary of TNT losing NBA, ESPN ditching ‘Sunday Night Baseball’
TNT and ESPN will air a combined 16 additional national window NHL games this season.
NHL Draft House needs to be foreclosed
"The 'Draft House' is the worst thing in the history of the world, and that might be an understatement."
Down Stanley Cup Final caps NHL’s rollercoaster ratings season
This season saw some great ratings heights for the NHL, but more drops and lows overall.
NHL predictably sees sharp U.S. ratings decline through Conference Finals
TNT Sports is down 20%, while ESPN is down 31% versus last season.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon: Dallas Stars fandom is ‘new-fangled hipster thing’ in Texas
"They don't know anything about real sports."
