There are some reports coming out that the NHL is in talks with ESPN to return games to the ESPN2 network in the 2008-2009 season. Gary Bettman and the NHL must be paying some attention to our polls here at FireBettman, as the latest poll shows that most fans believe NHL hockey should be televised on ESPN. We’re waiting to receive thanks for our scientific research.
Apparently, NBC is not very interested in renewing its contract with the NHL following next year, after receiving terribly low ratings in viewership last season.

However, there are some things that would need to be worked out with the oh-so-wonderful Versus Network, which Bettman had banked on as being the next greatest thing for the NHL. Versus holds all cable rights for NHL games until the 2011 season, after Bettman and his brilliant mind decided to give them an extended contract last year. Note that the Vs. airing of the NHL All-Star game last year received a .7 rating… a 76% drop from the 2004 season game, and their regular season games averaged only a 0.2 Nielson rating. So, Versus would have to give up their exclusive cable rights in order for this deal to go through.

This deal looks possible… but note that even if it does happen, the games will be shown on ESPN2 (not ESPN), and they will be only the weekend games that were shown on NBC and the late playoff games. Furthermore, remember that Gary Bettman represents the NHL here, and there is a very good chance that his ego or his lack of brains will get in the way and the deal will fall through.

The most interesting part of this breaking news is the talk about an NHL Network TV channel starting… according to the article, the network would be a 24 hour television channel dedicated to the NHL, and would broadcast 50 live NHL games in the 2007-2008 season. So, we may have our own NHL Network starting this fall! Let’s just hope that Bret Hull and/or Gary “The Prick” Thorne do not anchor the new NHL Network.