NHL on ABC

After being dropped by NBC after the {{NHL Year|1974}} season,{{cite news|title=Hockey, Violence and Movies|date=March 25, 1977|first=Frederick C.|last=Klein|newspaper=Wall Street Journal}}{{cite news|title=Sports check on what's new|date=June 9, 1975|first=Ross|last=Atkin|newspaper=Christian Science Monitor|page=19}}{{cite news|title=5 New Coaches Will Try to Dethrone the Flyers|date=October 8, 1975|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=D8}} the NHL had no national television contract in the United States.{{cite news|title=Hockey in battle for TV life!|date=October 5, 1975|first=George|last=Langford|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=I3}}{{Cite news |last=Durso |first=Joseph |author-link=Joe Durso |date=1977-07-13 |title=Problems of Overexpansion Continue: to Haunt N.B.A. and N.H.L. |language=en-US |pages=A16 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/07/13/archives/problems-of-overexpansion-continue-to-haunt-nba-and-nhl-inflated.html |access-date=2023-03-24 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |last=Herman |first=Robin |author-link=Robin Herman |date=1977-06-28 |title=N.H.L.'s President-Elect Scores Points With His Take-Charge Attitude |language=en-US |pages=24 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/06/28/archives/nhls-presidentelect-scores-points-with-his-takecharge-attitude.html |access-date=2023-03-24 |issn=0362-4331}} In response to this, the league put together a network of independent stations covering approximately 55% of the country.{{Cite news |date=1975-12-28 |title=Holiday TV Hurts Series |language=en-US |pages=137 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/12/28/archives/holiday-tv-hurts-series-holiday-tv-hurts-series.html |access-date=2023-03-24 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |date=1976-03-23 |title=N.H.L. Plans Cup TV; Seeks New York Outlet |language=en-US |pages=46 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/03/23/archives/nhl-plans-cup-tv-seeks-new-york-outlet.html |access-date=2023-03-24 |issn=0362-4331}}{{cite news|title=Hockey needs TV blanket to keep it warm in U.S.|date=January 17, 1979|first=Bob|last=Verdi|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|page=E1}}

Games typically aired on Monday nights{{cite news|title=TV hockey back, but no Hawks|first=Gary|last=Deeb|newspaper=The Chicago Tribune|page=C2|date=9 November 1976}} (beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Time) or Saturday afternoons. The package was offered to local stations without a rights fee.{{cite news|title=Shriking Act|author=Gary Deeb|newspaper=The Chicago Tribune|page=E4|date=23 February 1979}} Profits would instead be derived from the advertising, which was about evenly split between the network and the local station. The Monday night games were often billed as "The NHL Game of the Week."{{cite news|title=NHL Starts Tonight: Action but No TV|first=Don|last=Merry|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=E2|date=11 October 1978}}

Initially, the Monday night package was marketed to ABC affiliates; the idea being that ABC carried NFL football games on Monday nights in the fall and (starting in May {{baseball year|1976}}) Major League Baseball games on Monday nights in the spring and summer, stations would want the hockey telecasts to create a year-round Monday night sports block, rather than taking a night of programming that struggled to establish itself with traditional programming outside of football season. In practice, only a few ABC stations chose to pick up the NHL package.

In {{NHL Year|1978|end}}, ABC was contracted to televise Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.{{cite news|date=1979-05-13|title=May 26 Selected For a 7th Game|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/05/13/archives/may-26-selected-for-a-7th-game.html|access-date=February 9, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q_QhAAAAIBAJ&pg=6148%2C1821764|title=NHL, ABC-TV Agree|date=May 13, 1979|page=89|via=Google News Archive|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Reading Eagle}} Since the Finals ended in five games, the contract was void.{{cite news|title=Montreal win kills ABC TV deal but Ziegler feels pact is on way|first=Donald|last=Ramsay|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|page=P35|date=22 May 1979}} Had there been a seventh game, then Al Michaels would have called play-by-play alongside Bobby Clarke (color commentator). Jim McKay would host the seventh game in the studio and Frank Gifford (reporter) would have been in the winning team's dressing room to interview players and coaches as well as hand the phone to the winning team's coach that would have allowed him to talk to both President Jimmy Carter and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau). This would give Michaels the honor of being the first to provide the play-by-play in four of the five major professional sports, having called the Super Bowl, the World Series, and NBA Finals. The game would have started at 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on a Saturday, replacing Wide World of Sports and local news shows that typically followed it on ABC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones.

It was also around this time that ABC offered the NHL a limited deal (splitting the network and showing the NHL in the Northeast and Midwest and NASCAR in the South on Sunday afternoons) that NHL president John Ziegler Jr.{{cite web |url=http://puckjunk.com/2018/10/29/john-ziegler-did-more-harm-than-good-for-hockey/|title=John Ziegler Did More Harm Than Good for Hockey|last=Barry|first=Sal|date=29 October 2018|website=Punk Junk}} quickly rejected.

Even though ABC didn't yet televise National Hockey League games, they were the American network broadcast home of the Winter Olympic Games beginning in 1964 and continuing through the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary. For the ice hockey events, they employed Curt Gowdy for play-by-play duties during their 1968 and 1976 Winter Games broadcasts (NBC had the broadcasting rights for the 1972 Games in the interim). Gowdy worked with Brian Conacher for the 1976 ice hockey events.

Four years later, at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, ABC was on hand for a medal-round men's ice hockey game that would soon become known the "Miracle on Ice." On February 22, 1980, the United States team, made up of amateur and collegiate players and led by coach Herb Brooks, defeated the heavily-favored Soviet team, which consisted of veteran professional players with significant experience in international play. The rest of the United States (except those who watched the game live on Canadian television) had to wait to see the game, as ABC decided to broadcast the late-afternoon game on tape delay in prime time.[https://www.espn.com/classic/s/miracle_ice_1980.html "College kids perform Olympic miracle"], ESPN.com Sportscaster Al Michaels, who was calling the game on ABC along with former Montreal Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden, picked up on the countdown in his broadcast and delivered his famous call:{{YouTube|id=QTev5pSuYLk|title=1980 Miracle On Ice}}{{Cite web |title=U.S. Olympic hockey team beats Soviet Union {{!}} February 27, 1960 |url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-s-olympic-hockey-team-beats-soviet-union |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=HISTORY |language=en}}

{{blockquote|Eleven seconds, you've got ten seconds, the countdown going on right now! Morrow, up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles? YES!}}

Al Michaels continued serving as ABC's lead play-by-play announcer for their ice hockey coverage for their next two Winter Olympics, both with lead color commentator Ken Dryden. For their coverage of the ice hockey events at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Mike Eruzione (the captain of the gold medal-winning United States ice hockey team from 1980) worked with Don Chevrier. Four years later, for ABC's final Winter Olympics, Eruzione was this time paired with Jiggs McDonald.

In 1989,{{cite news|title=ABC Radio Gets Stanley Cup|newspaper=Los Angeles Daily News|date=12 September 1989}} the NHL signed a two-year contract (lasting through the {{NHL Year|1990}} season) with ABC Radio for the broadcast rights to the All-Star Game and Stanley Cup Finals.{{cite news|title=Regular Season Honors to Bruins; Liut Top Goalie|first=Robert|last=Fachet|newspaper=The Washington Post|page=B08|date=3 April 1990}}{{cite news|title=TV deal offers another chance but CFL needs a career year|first=Rob|last=Grant|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=C.8|date=17 May 1991}} ABC Radio named Don Chevrier and Phil Esposito as their main commentating crew.{{cite news|title=Relief role McGwire's dream|first=Milt|last=Dunnell|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=G1|date=16 July 1989}}{{cite news|title=Munchies List is Some Food for Thought|newspaper=Worcester Telegram & Gazette|page=B8|date=19 May 1990}}{{cite news|title=Cool Goodyear feels the heat of Indy-scribable media hype|first=Rob|last=Grant|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=19 May 1990}}

File:NHLonABClogo1994.jpg

In the {{NHL Year|1992}} season, ABC televised five weekly playoff telecasts{{Cite web |last=Jackman |first=Phil |date=1993-04-16 |title=White Sox opener is job Gumbel backed into long ago |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1993/04/16/white-sox-opener-is-job-gumbel-backed-into-long-ago/ |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hull |first=Christopher |date=April 10, 1993 |title=Stanley Cup playoffs debut on ABC, ESPN |url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc%3A1993-04-17-62/PDF/Page%20PDF |access-date=February 29, 2024 |website=Prince George Citizen}} (the first three weeks were regional coverage of various games and two national games){{cite news|title=NHL governors "ecstatic' over reported TV package|newspaper=Kitchener-Waterloo Record|page=E2|date=27 August 1992}}{{Cite web |last=Swift |first=E. M. |date=June 20, 1994 |title=Hot Not |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1994/06/20/hot-not |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200308163109/https://vault.si.com/vault/1994/06/20/hot-not |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 March 2020 |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Sports Illustrated Vault {{!}} SI.com |language=en-us}} on Sunday afternoons starting on April 18 and ending on May 16.{{cite web| url= https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1993/03/04/abc-to-televise-five-sunday-nhl-playoff-games/| title= ABC to televise five Sunday NHL playoff games| work=Tampa Bay Times | date= March 4, 1993| access-date= February 9, 2016}}{{Cite web |title=NHL returns to U.S. network TV for playoffs - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/03/03/NHL-returns-to-US-network-TV-for-playoffs/1970731134800/ |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=UPI |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=March 4, 1993 |title=HOCKEY; N.H.L. Playoffs In Deal With ABC |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/04/sports/hockey-nhl-playoffs-in-deal-with-abc.html |access-date=February 23, 2024 |website=New York Times |page=B17}} This marked the first time that playoff National Hockey League games were broadcast on American network television{{cite book |last=Gatehouse|first=Jonathon|author-link= |date= October 2012|title=The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the NHL and Changed the Game Forever|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ryb0O7riZnQC&q=ABC|location= |publisher=Triumph Books|page=159|isbn=9781623686567}} since 1975 (when NBC was the NHL's American broadcast television partner{{cite news|title=Weighty ESPY awards get lighthearted touch|first=Michael|last=Heistand|newspaper=USA Today|page=3C|date=4 March 1993}}{{cite web| url= https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1993-05-22-9302130259-story.html| title= NBC Wins With Lottery, East Finals|first=Jorge|last=Milan|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel| date= 22 May 1993| access-date= 9 February 2016}}{{cite news|title=ABC to help showcase NHL with 5 playoff games|first=Randy|last=Covitz|newspaper=Kansas City Star|page=D6|date=6 March 1993}}{{cite news |author=Kiley |first=Mike |date=28 March 1993 |title=He's Muni-ficent: Oilers coach lavishes praise on new Hawk |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/03/28/hes-muni-ficent-oilers-coach-lavishes-praise-on-new-hawk/ |access-date=February 9, 2016 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |page=12}}{{cite web| url= https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/11/sports/hockey-nhl-is-about-to-showcase-lemieux-and-the-prime-time-penguins.html| title= N.H.L. Is About to Showcase Lemieux and the Prime-Time Penguins|first=Joe|last=LaPointe|work=New York Times| date= 11 April 1993| access-date= 9 February 2016}}{{Cite web |last=Kiley |first=Mike |date=1993-04-12 |title=HAWKS MUST WIN NORRIS TO MAKE ABC TELECAST |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/04/12/hawks-must-win-norris-to-make-abc-telecast/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=Chicago Tribune |page=11 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Chicago |date=1993-04-12 |title=HAWKS GET A POINT-SUTTER MAKES ONE |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/04/12/hawks-get-a-point-sutter-makes-one/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Chicago |date=1993-04-14 |title=HAWKS NAIL DOWN 1ST IN NORRIS |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/04/14/hawks-nail-down-1st-in-norris/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}{{cite news|title=TV picture still fuzzy for NHL playoff schedule|first=Ken|last= McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=E8|date=15 April 1994}}).

In the {{NHL Year|1993}} season, ABC televised six{{cite web| url= https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/09/02/NHL-strikes-TV-deal-with-ESPN/2438715406400/| title= NHL strikes TV deal with ESPN| work=UPI| date= 2 September 1992| access-date= 9 February 2016}} weekly regional telecasts on the last three Sunday afternoons beginning on March 27, 1994, marking the first time that regular season National Hockey League games were broadcast on American network television since NBC did it in {{NHL Year|1974}}.{{cite news|title=NHL's new boss ready to clear up confusion|first=Rudy|last=Martzke|newspaper=USA Today|page=3C|date=5 February 1993}}{{cite news|title=Camera could be newest Derby rider|first=Michael|last=Hiestand|newspaper=USA Today|page=3C|date=28 April 1993}}{{Cite web |last=Kiley |first=Mike |date=1993-09-24 |title=TWO GAMES IN HAWKS' STRETCH RUN TO BE ON ABC |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/09/24/two-games-in-hawks-stretch-run-to-be-on-abc/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}} This marked the first time that regular season National Hockey League games were broadcast on American network television{{cite web| url= https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1993-05-07-0000102356-story.html |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/archive/QlQKe |archive-date=February 27, 2024 |title= Select few watching NHL on ABC|first=Jim|last=Shea|newspaper=Hartford Courant| date= 7 May 1993| access-date= 9 February 2016}} since {{NHL Year|1974}} (again when NBC was the NHL's American broadcast television partner). ABC then televised three weeks worth of playoff games on first three Sundays{{cite web| url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-01-21-9401210194-story.html| title= NHL Boss Finishes Eventful 1st Year – Bettman Focuses on CBS Deal| first=Mike|last=Kiley|work=Chicago Tribune| date= 21 January 1994| access-date= 20 March 2008}} – the final game was Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Boston Bruins and the New Jersey Devils, a game that was aired nationally. The network did not televise the Stanley Cup Finals, which instead, were televised nationally by ESPN and by Prime Ticket in Los Angeles ({{scfy|1993}}) and MSG Network in New York ({{scfy|1994}}). Games televised on ABC were not subject to blackout.

These broadcasts (just as was the case with the 2000–2004 package) were essentially, time-buys{{cite news|title=NHL announces TV deal but some details murky|date=3 September 1992|first=Michael|last=Hiestand|newspaper=USA Today|page=3C}} by ESPN.{{cite web| url= https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1992-08-22-9201170103-story.html| title= Too Much Punch Ruins NHL Party|first=Craig|last=Davis|work=Sun-Sentinel| date= 22 August 1992| access-date= 20 March 2008}}{{cite news|title=Fox makes hockey its newest surprise|first=Rudy|last=Martzke|newspaper=USA Today|page=3C|date=12 September 1994}} In other words, ABC would sell three-hour blocks of airtime to ESPN,{{cite web| url= https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/27/sports/hockey-legal-sabers-rattle-over-nhl-tv-plan.html| title= Legal Sabers Rattle Over N.H.L. TV Plan| first=Richard|last=Sandomir|work=New York Times| date= 27 August 1992| access-date= 20 March 2008}} who in return, would produce and distribute the telecasts. Overall, ABC averaged a 1.7 rating for those two seasons.{{cite web| url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-09-10-1994253079-story.html| title= Fox checks CBS to win TV rights to NHL| author=New York Times News Service|newspaper=Baltimore Sun| date= 10 September 1994| access-date= 9 February 2016}}{{cite book|first1=Aaron N. |last1=Wise |first2=Bruce S. |last2=Meyer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TGgjAAAAMAAJ&q=National+Hockey+League+on+USA+Network|title=International sports law and business, Volume 3|publisher=Kluwer Law International|year=1997|page=1704}}{{cite web| url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-03-ss-42587-story.html| title= Mighty Ducks '93-94: Premiere Season: A Brave new NHL: As It Welcomes Two New Members, the National Hockey League Ponders What It Needs to Do to Become the Sport of the '90s|first=Mike|last=DiGivanna|work=Los Angeles Times| date= 3 October 1993| access-date= 20 March 2008}}

When the NHL television contract went up for negotiation in early 1994, Fox (which was in the process of launching its sports division after acquiring the rights to the National Football Conference of the NFL) and CBS (which was hoping to land a major sports contract to replace the NFL rights that they lost to Fox and Major League Baseball rights that they lost to ABC and NBC) competed heavily for the package. On September 9, 1994, the National Hockey League reached a five-year, US$155 million contract with Fox{{cite news |last=Daniel|first=Al|date=17 May 2020|title=NHL on Fox established hockey's lasting U.S. network presence|url=https://fansided.com/2020/05/17/nhl-on-fox-established-hockeys-lasting-us-network-presence/|work=Fansided}} for the broadcast television rights to the league's games, beginning with the 1994–95 season.{{cite web| url= https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/10/sports/hockey-fox-outbids-cbs-for-nhl-games.html| title=Fox Outbids CBS for N.H.L. Games|first=Richard|last=Sandomir|work=New York Times| date= 10 September 1994| access-date= 20 March 2008}}

File:NHL on ABC 1999.png

In August 1998, ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 signed a five-year television deal with the NHL, worth a total of approximately US$600 million{{cite magazine|first=John|last=Walters|date=10 January 2000|title=Learning It Cold|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2000/01/10/learning-it-cold|magazine=Sports Illustrated}}{{cite web| url= https://www.nexttv.com/news/espn-lands-600m-nhl-deal-155184| title= ESPN Lands $600M NHL Deal|first=R. Thomas|last=Umstead|work=Multichannel News| date= 31 August 1998| access-date= 9 February 2016}}{{cite web| url= https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/22/sports/hockey/picture-is-fuzzy-for-nhl-on-networks.html| title= Picture Is Fuzzy for N.H.L. on Networks|first=Richard|last=Sandomir|author-link=Richard Sandomir|work=New York Times| date= 22 February 2005| access-date= 9 February 2016}}{{cite web| url= https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1999-04-23-9904230309-story.html| title= Fox Probably Grateful to Ice the Puck|first=Jeff|last=Goldberg|work=Hartford Courant| date= 23 April 1999| access-date= 9 February 2016}}{{cite web|url= https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1999-06-08-9906080089-story.html| title= Final meltdown of relationship between Fox, NHL begins today|first=Milton|last=Kent|work=Baltimore Sun| date= 8 June 1999|access-date= 9 February 2016}}{{cite news|date=9 June 2000|title=Stars' 1-0 triumph brings in viewers|work=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/2000/0609/575965.html}}{{cite web| url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-08-26-9808260035-story.html| title= Price for NHL Rights Is Right, Disney Says|first=Michael|last=Hirsley|work=Chicago Tribune| date= 26 August 1998| access-date= 9 February 2016}} (or $120 million per year), beginning with the league's 1999–2000 season. The $120 million per year that ABC and ESPN paid for rights dwarfed the $5.5 million that the NHL received from American national broadcasts in the 1991–92 season.{{cite web| url= https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/07/sports/tv-sports-best-nhl-action-is-the-battle-over-tv-rights.html| title=Best N.H.L. Action Is the Battle Over TV Rights| first=Richard |last=Sandomir |work=The New York Times | date= 7 August 1998| access-date= 20 March 2008}} ABC's terms of this deal included: rights to the NHL All-Star Game, 4 to 5 weeks of regular season action,{{cite book |last=Gatehouse|first=Jonathon|author-link= |date= October 2012|title=The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the NHL and Changed the Game Forever|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ryb0O7riZnQC&q=ABC|location= |publisher=Triumph Books|page=165|isbn=9781623686567}} with three games a week, weekend Stanley Cup Playoff games, and Games 3 to 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

As previously noted, much like ABC's initial contract with the NHL in the 1992–93 and 1993–94 seasons, ESPN essentially purchased time on ABC to air selected NHL games on the broadcast network. This was noted in copyright tags after the telecasts (i.e., "The preceding program has been paid for by ESPN, Inc."). ESPN later signed a similar television rights contract with the National Basketball Association in 2002, allowing it to produce and broadcast NBA games on ABC under a similar time buy arrangement on the broadcast network.{{cite news|title=Without Showing Games, ESPN Leaves a Mark on the N.B.A. Finals|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/11/sports/basketball/without-showing-games-espn-leaves-a-mark-on-the-nba-finals.html?_r=0|author-link=Richard Sandomir|first=Richard|last=Sandomir|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 10, 2015|access-date=June 12, 2015}}

In May 2004, NBC and ESPN reached an agreement to broadcast NHL games beginning in the 2004–05 season, which would end up being canceled as a result of the 2004–05 NHL lockout; ESPN later withdrew{{cite book |last1=Miller|last2=Shales|first1=James Andrew|first2=Tom|author-link2=Tom Shales|title=Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN|url=http://www.uvm.edu/~rgriffin/ESPN-Miller.pdf|location= |publisher= |page=543|isbn=}} from the deal in favor of OLN,{{cite news |last=Rovell|first=Darren|date=17 August 2005|title=ESPN decides not to match Comcast's offer|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2137098|work=ESPN}} which wound up being rebranded as NBCSN in 2012. In the interval between the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals and the start of the 2005–06 season, several ABC affiliates, including WDTN in Dayton, Ohio (a secondary market for the Columbus Blue Jackets) and WAND in Springfield, Illinois (which is served by the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues), switched to NBC (in WDTN's case, they returned to the network after 24 years away).

As previously mentioned, ABC televised four to five weeks' worth of regional games on Saturday afternoons,{{cite book |last=Harris|first=Cecil|title=Breaking the Ice: The Black Experience in Professional Hockey|year=2007|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8E74agb2dk4C&dq=2003+Stanley+Cup+Finals+ABC&pg=PA187|page=187|publisher=Insomniac Press |isbn=9781897415054}} typically beginning in January or March for the first two seasons.

{{further|NHL on ESPN#Third return to ESPN and ABC: 2021–present}}

On March 10, 2021, ESPN announced a new, seven-year broadcast deal with the NHL, which included games on ESPN, ABC, and ESPN+ beginning in the 2021–22 season.{{Cite web |last=Coryell |first=Grace |date=2021-03-10 |title=The Walt Disney Company, ESPN and National Hockey League Reach Groundbreaking Long-Term Agreement |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2021/03/the-walt-disney-company-espn-and-national-hockey-league-reach-groundbreaking-long-term-agreement/ |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}}{{cite news|date=March 10, 2021|title=NHL back on ESPN with 7-year multiplatform deal|work=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/31039351/nhl-back-espn-7-year-multiplatform-deal|access-date=March 11, 2021}}{{Cite news|last=Draper|first=Kevin|date=March 11, 2021|title=N.H.L. Returns to ESPN in a 7-Year Deal With an Emphasis on Streaming|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/10/sports/hockey/hockey-nhl-espn-disney.html|access-date=September 18, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|title=NHL deal with ESPN, Disney takes hockey into the future|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-deal-with-espn-disney-takes-hockey-into-the-future/c-322354090|access-date=September 18, 2021|website=NHL.com}}{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Sean Shapiro and The Athletic |title=ESPN, NHL agree to 7-year broadcast deal |url=https://theathletic.com/4222479/2021/03/09/espn-nhl-agree-to-7-year-broadcast-deal/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Spiegel |first=Jackie |date=2021-03-10 |title=NHL games returning to ESPN for 2021-22 season after 16 years apart|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nhl/news/espn-nhl-seven-year-deal/10zt071gixjsp1dub5gdtzp3iz |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=Sporting News}}{{Cite web |last1=O'Leary |first1=Sean |last2=Gold-Smith |first2=Josh |date=2021-03-10 |title=NHL, ESPN reach 7-year broadcast deal reportedly worth over $2.8B |url=https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2130188 |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=theScore.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Battaglio |first=Stephen |date=2021-03-10 |title=NHL TV rights return to ESPN with a seven-year-deal that includes streaming |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-03-10/nhl-returns-to-espn-with-a-seven-year-deal-with-four-stanley-cup-finals |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} At least 25 regular-season games will be scheduled to air on ESPN or ABC, along with half of the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and one conference final each year. Not only does ESPN/ABC have the first choice of which conference final series to air,{{Cite web |title=ESPN, NHL announce comprehensive 7-year agreement |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2021/03/10/espn-nhl-announce-comprehensive-7-year-agreement/115546560/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} but also ABC will exclusively broadcast four Stanley Cup Finals{{cite news |last=Clinkscales|first=Jason|date=June 29, 2022|title=Start times for the NBA Finals are harder to defend now after watching the Stanley Cup Final|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/abc/start-times-for-the-nba-finals-are-harder-to-defend-stanley-cup-final.html|work=Awful Announcing|location= |access-date=June 29, 2022}} over the life of the contract, with the option to simulcast each game on ESPN+, as well as produce alternate broadcasts to air on other ESPN platforms.

The 2022 Stanley Cup Finals marked the first to be broadcast in their entirety on over-the-air television since 1980, as the Finals had since either been partially or exclusively carried on cable.{{cite news|last=Lucia|first=Joe|date=April 27, 2021|title=Turner's NHL deal will include "up to 72" exclusive national games each season, half the Stanley Cup Playoffs, HBO Max streaming|work=Awful Announcing|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nhl/turners-nhl-deal-will-include-up-to-72-exclusive-national-games-each-season-half-the-stanley-cup-playoffs-hbo-max-streaming.html|access-date=}}{{cite news|last1=Knoll|first1=Andrew|date=April 27, 2021|title=N.H.L. and Turner Sports Reach 7-Year Media Rights Deal|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/27/sports/hockey/nhl-turner-media-rights-deal.html|url-access=limited|access-date=May 13, 2021}}{{cite news|last1=Hayes|first1=Dade|last2=Pedersen|first2=Erik|date=April 27, 2021|title=Turner & NHL Ice Seven-Year Rights Deal Including Some Playoff & Stanley Cup Final Games, HBO Max – Update|work=Deadline|url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/turner-looks-to-skate-in-on-nhl-rights-after-nbcuniversal-bails-will-pucks-fly-on-hbo-max-1234744602/|access-date=May 13, 2021}} Due to the current arrangement of ABC's sports programming being produced and co-branded by ESPN, the broadcasts carry the NHL on ESPN production and branding.

ABC's first game back featured the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins in the annual Thanksgiving Showdown on November 26, 2021.{{cite news |last=Lucia|first=Joe|date=September 16, 2021|title=ESPN, Turner release NHL schedules for 2021-22 season, featuring 78 regular season games on cable and broadcast|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/espn-turner-release-nhl-schedules-for-2021-22-season-featuring-78-regular-season-games-on-cable-and-broadcast.html|work=Awful Announcing|location= |access-date=November 14, 2021}} After ABC aired the 2022 NHL All-Star Game, the network aired a weekly game under the ABC Hockey Saturday branding, which began on February 26.{{Cite web |last=Coryell |first=Grace |date=2021-09-16 |title=The Walt Disney Company Announces 103 Exclusive NHL Games Across ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu and ABC Beginning October 12 |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2021/09/the-walt-disney-company-announces-103-exclusive-nhl-games-across-espn-espn-hulu-and-abc-beginning-october-12/ |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}} The package primarily aired on Saturday afternoons, with one primetime game on March 19 to accommodate afternoon coverage of the 2022 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament. All games broadcast by ABC are simulcast on ESPN+.{{Cite web |last=Coryell |first=Olivia |date=2021-10-04 |title=Breaking it Down: How to Watch the NHL on ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu and ABC |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2021/10/breaking-it-down-how-to-watch-the-nhl-on-espn-espn-hulu-and-abc/ |access-date=2022-01-20 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}}

ABC did not air a full 30-minute or hour-long pregame show before their games in 2021, instead opting for an abbreviated 15-minute pregame show presented by Verizon. However, ABC aired a full 30-minute pregame show on April 23, as a lead-out of their Bundesliga soccer coverage. They will air a 30-minute pregame show for games outside of the primetime slot (which airs for 20-minutes ). If time permits, ABC will also air a short postgame show until 6 or 11 p.m. ET respectfully, so most ABC affiliates on the East Coast can show their local news or ABC World News Tonight. For the Stanley Cup Finals, all broadcasts began at 8 p.m. ET, allowing for a short pre-game show before puck drop; this is in contrast to the NBA Finals, which had historically preferred a later, 9 p.m. ET window for games on weeknights, with ABC leading into the game with half-hour Jimmy Kimmel Live! specials followed by NBA Countdown (from the 2023 Finals and on, it will move weeknight games ahead by 30 minutes to an 8:30 p.m. window).{{Cite web |date=2022-06-29 |title=Start times for the NBA Finals are harder to defend after the Stanley Cup Final |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/abc/start-times-for-the-nba-finals-are-harder-to-defend-stanley-cup-final.html |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Paulsen |date=2023-04-26 |title=Weeknight NBA Finals games to begin half-hour earlier |url=https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2023/04/nba-finals-games-begin-earlier-no-more-9-pm-starts/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=Sports Media Watch |language=en-US}}

In the 2022–23 season, ABC aired 15 games, including four double-headers, the NHL Stadium Series game,{{Cite web |date=2022-12-01 |title=2023 NHL Stadium Series between Capitals, Hurricanes to air on ABC, ESPN+ {{!}} NHL.com |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/2023-nhl-stadium-series-between-washington-capitals-carolina-hurricane-338233058 |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.nhl.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Chi |first=Danny |date=2022-12-01 |title=NHL Schedule Update: 2023 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series to be Broadcast on ABC and Simulcast on ESPN+ |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2022/12/nhl-schedule-update-2023-navy-federal-credit-union-nhl-stadium-series-to-be-broadcast-on-abc-and-simulcast-on-espn/ |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}} and a triple-header on April 8; the Thanksgiving Showdown moved to TNT, which also covered this season's Stanley Cup Finals.{{Cite web |last=Chi |first=Danny |date=2022-09-07 |title=The Walt Disney Company Announces 103 Exclusive National Hockey League Games Across ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu and ABC Beginning October 11 |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2022/09/the-walt-disney-company-announces-103-exclusive-national-hockey-league-games-across-espn-espn-hulu-and-abc-beginning-october-11/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}}

For the 2023–24 season, ABC's coverage included 19 regular season games (the largest number of games on a broadcast network in NHL history), featuring four double-headers, both NHL Stadium Series games, and two triple-headers on February 17 and April 13. ABC also aired the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals. ABC Hockey Saturday for this season began on January 13, preceding Super Wild Card Saturday of the NFL playoffs, unlike past years when its slate began after the NHL All-Star Game.{{cite press release|title=The Walt Disney Company Announces 100 Exclusive National Hockey League Games Across ESPN, ESPN+, ABC, and Hulu Beginning October 10|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2023/08/the-walt-disney-company-announces-100-exclusive-national-hockey-league-games-across-espn-espn-abc-and-hulu-beginning-october-10/|website=ESPN Press Room|date=August 30, 2023|access-date=August 30, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=DiCristoforo |first=Andrea |date=2024-02-13 |title=2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series Headlines Five Exclusive Games this Week on ABC and ESPN+/Hulu |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2024/02/2024-navy-federal-credit-union-nhl-stadium-series-headlines-five-exclusive-games-this-week-on-abc-and-espn-hulu/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}}

The 2024–25 season will again have ABC air 19 games. ABC's schedule will begin during the last week of the 2024 NFL regular season, with a game on Saturday, January 4 that will precede ABC/ESPN's NFL doubleheader, and another on January 5 that will directly compete with NFL afternoon games. This will mark the earliest date that a over-the-air broadcast network began airing its NHL schedule (outside of the All Star Game or holiday games). ABC will have another game on January 11 that precedes the Wild Card weekend of the NFL playoffs. There are also six Saturday doubleheaders from February though April, and two primetime games on March 22 and 29. However, ABC will not have any tripleheaders, and the 2025 Stadium Series will be on ESPN instead of ABC. With the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off tournament replacing the All-Star Game this season, the NHL decided to split it between TNT/truTV, ESPN, ABC, and ESPN+: TNT will have the Canada–Sweden game on February 12 and a Presidents' Day round-robin doubleheader on February 17, ABC/ESPN+ will air the February 15 round-robin doubleheader, and ESPN will air the United States–Finland game on February 13 and the final on February 20.{{Cite web |last=DiCristoforo |first=Andrea |date=2024-08-29 |title=The Walt Disney Company Announces 100 Exclusive National Hockey League Games Across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+, ABC and Hulu Beginning October 8 |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2024/08/the-walt-disney-company-announces-100-exclusive-national-hockey-league-games-across-espn-espn2-espn-abc-and-hulu-beginning-october-8/ |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-06-08 |title=2025 4 Nations Face-Off to take place in Montreal, Boston {{!}} NHL.com |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/2025-4-nations-face-off-to-take-place-in-montreal-boston |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=www.nhl.com |language=en}}

1. Steve Levy – lead studio host and alternate play-by-play (2021–present){{Cite web|date=2021-06-29|title=McDonough gets lead NHL gig on ESPN|url=https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2021/06/sean-mcdonough-nhl-espn-lead-voice-steve-levy/|access-date=2021-08-11|website=Sports Media Watch}}{{Cite web|last=Greenspan|first=Jared|date=2021-06-29|title=ESPN tabs Sean McDonough as lead NHL play-by-play voice|url=https://nypost.com/2021/06/29/espn-tabs-sean-mcdonough-as-lead-nhl-play-by-play-voice/|access-date=2021-08-11|website=New York Post}}{{Cite web|title=McDonough, Levy to lead ESPN's team for NHL coverage|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2021/06/29/mcdonough-levy-to-lead-espns-team-for-nhl-coverage/117327944/|access-date=2021-08-11|website=USA Today}}{{Cite web|date=2021-06-29|title=Dynamic, Diverse and Accomplished Team to Present ESPN's NHL Coverage to Fans|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/?p=216400|access-date=2021-06-29|website=ESPN Press Room U.S.}}
2. John Buccigross – alternate studio host (2021–present); alternate play-by-play (2024–present)
3. Arda Ocal – game break host (2023–present)
4. Mark Messier – lead studio analyst (2021–present){{Cite web|last=Gardner|first=Steve|title=ESPN adds Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier as NHL analyst|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2021/06/24/mark-messier-joins-espn-nhl-analyst/5336871001/|access-date=2021-06-24|website=USA Today}}{{Cite web|date=2021-06-24|title=NHL great Messier joins ESPN as studio analyst|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/31702318/mark-messier-joins-espn-studio-analyst-nhl-coverage|access-date=2021-06-24|website=ESPN}}
5. P. K. Subban – lead studio analyst (2023–present); color commentator (2025-present; select games)
6. A. J. Mleczko – #3 color commentator (2021–present); alternate studio analyst (2021–present, select games)
7. Ray Ferraro – lead color commentator/ice-level analyst and alternate studio analyst (2021–present){{Cite web|last=Marchand|first=Andrew|date=2021-05-10|title=ESPN adding Ray Ferraro, Brian Boucher as NHL analysts|url=https://nypost.com/2021/05/10/espn-adding-ray-ferraro-brian-boucher-as-nhl-analysts/|access-date=2021-05-17|website=New York Post}}{{Cite news|author=The Athletic Staff|title=Ray Ferraro and Brian Boucher to join ESPN as NHL analysts: Sources|url=https://theathletic.com/news/ray-ferraro-and-brian-boucher-to-join-espn-as-nhl-analysts-sources/Sql74742jB6L|access-date=2021-07-13|website=The Athletic}}{{Cite web|last=Tornoe|first=Rob|title=ESPN's new NHL roster has several Flyers connections, including a once-hated foe|url=https://www.inquirer.com/flyers/espn-nhl-flyers-chris-chelios-mark-messier-20210630.html|access-date=2021-09-11|website=www.inquirer.com|date=30 June 2021 }}

1. Sean McDonough – lead play-by-play (2021–present){{Cite web|title=Sean McDonough to lead ESPN's NHL coverage|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/media/2021/06/29/sean-mcdonough-espn-nhl-coverage-deal/|access-date=2021-08-11|website=www.boston.com}}{{Cite web|date=2021-06-29|title=ESPN Announces Its No. 1 Announcer For The NHL|url=https://thespun.com/more/sports-media/nhl-espn-contract-sean-mcdonough-top-play-by-play-announcer-roster-mark-messier-steve-levy|access-date=2021-08-11|website=The Spun}}
2. Bob Wischusen – #2 play-by-play (2023–present)
3. Mike Monaco – #3 play-by-play (2023–present)
4. John Buccigross – alternate studio host (2021–present); alternate play-by-play (2024–present)
5. Steve Levy - lead studio host and alternate play-by-play (2021-present)

1. Ray Ferraro – lead color commentator/ice-level analyst and alternate studio analyst (2021–present)
2. Ryan Callahan – #2 color commentator (2024–present)
3. A. J. Mleczko – #3 color commentator/alternate studio analyst (2021–present, select games)
4. Kevin Weekes – rinkside reporter (2023–present; special events); color commentator (2024–present; select games)
5. P. K. Subban – lead studio analyst (2023–present); color commentator (2025-present; select games)

1. Emily Kaplan – lead rinkside reporter (2022–present)
2. Leah Hextall – #2 rinkside reporter (2023–present)
3. Blake Bolden - #3 rinkside reporter (2024–present)
4. Kevin Weekes – rinkside reporter (2023–present; special events); color commentator (2024–present; select games)

1. Dave Jackson – rules analyst (2021–present){{Cite web|date=2021-10-03|title=Referee Dave Jackson Joins ESPN NHL Broadcast Team|url=https://scoutingtherefs.com/2021/10/32119/referee-dave-jackson-joins-espn-nhl-broadcast-team/|access-date=2021-10-07|website=Scouting The Refs|language=en-US}}{{Cite tweet|author=Patrick Johnston|user=risingaction|title=ESPN adding a rules analyst in retired ref Dave Jackson. TSN of course had Kerry Fraser in the past.|number=1444030788224229378|date=2021-10-01|access-date=2021-10-07|language=en}}

• John Saunders

1. Gary Thorne
2. Mike Emrick
3. Al Michaels
4. Tom Mees (1994)
5. Bob Miller (1993–94)
6. Sam Rosen (1993–94)

1. Bill Clement
2. John Davidson
3. Darren Pang (1993–94)
4. Joe Micheletti (1993–94)
5. Jim Schoenfeld (1993)

1. Al Morganti
2. Tom Mees
3. Bob Neumeier
4. Brenda Brenon{{Cite web |last=Pergament |first=Alan |date=1994-04-02 |title=CH. 7'S BRENON ON THE MARK AS RINK-SIDE REPORTER |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/ch-7s-brenon-on-the-mark-as-rink-side-reporter/article_5dec5712-eac2-5f37-96c9-2587a3fc8390.html |access-date=February 9, 2016 |website=Buffalo News |language=en}}
5. Mark Jones

1. John Saunders – lead studio host
2. Steve Levy – fill-in studio host, #2 play-by-play man, NHL All-Star Game, and Stanley Cup Finals reporter
3. John Davidson – lead studio analyst (1999–2002); color commentator (2003–2004){{Cite web|date=30 September 1999|title=J.D. Hired By ABC|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jd-hired-by-iabc-i/|access-date=9 February 2016|website=CBS News}}
4. Barry Melrose – color commentator, NHL All-Star Game, and Stanley Cup Finals studio analyst (1999–2002); lead studio analyst (2003–04){{Cite web|title=ABC Sports - ABC Sports announces its hockey broadcast teams|url=http://www.espn.com/abcsports/pressreleases/s/2003/0107/1488594.html|date=18 April 2003|access-date=9 February 2016|website=www.espn.com}}{{cite news|date=18 April 2003|title=NHL playoffs to air exclusively on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2|work=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/abcsports/pressreleases/s/2003/0403/1533561.html}}{{Cite web |last=Stewart |first=Larry |date=16 May 2003 |title=Finding a New Comfort Zone |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-may-16-sp-tvcol16-story.html |access-date=2021-08-24 |website=Los Angeles Times}}{{Cite news |last=Houston |first=William |date=2003-01-10 |title=TSN hands off Wickenheiser game to bolster sister network |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/tsn-hands-off-wickenheiser-game-to-bolster-sister-network/article748219/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}
5. Darren Pang – Stanley Cup Finals studio analyst (2003–2004)

1. Al Michaels (2000–2002){{Cite news |last=Houston |first=William |date=2000-06-02 |title=TRUTH & RUMOURS |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/truth-rumours/article768011/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}{{Cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Sandomir |date=2000-06-10 |title=TV SPORTS; ABC Made Most of Three Overtimes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/10/sports/tv-sports-abc-made-most-of-three-overtimes.html |access-date=February 9, 2016 |work=The New York Times |page=D5}}
2. Chris Berman (2003){{cite web| url= https://nypost.com/2003/04/25/brand-berman-espn-shameless/| title= Brand Berman & ESPN Shameless|first=Phil|last=Musnick|work=New York Post| date= 25 April 2003| access-date= 9 February 2016}}

1. Gary Thorne
2. Steve Levy – fill-in studio host, #2 play-by-play man, NHL All-Star Game, and Stanley Cup Finals reporter
3. Mike Emrick
4. Dave Strader (2000–2002)

1. Bill Clement - lead color commentator (1999–2004)
2. John Davidson – lead studio analyst (1999–2002); color commentator (2003–2004){{Cite web|last=Marchand|first=Andrew|date=2002-12-13|title=Howie Switching to Radio Booth? Mets May Recast Broadcast Lineups|url=https://nypost.com/2002/12/13/howie-switching-to-radio-booth-mets-may-recast-broadcast-lineups/|access-date=9 February 2016|website=New York Post}}{{Cite web|first=Jim|last=Sarni|title=Aussie Open Shift Would Mean More Competition|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2003-01-10-0301091229-story.html|date=10 January 2003|access-date=9 February 2016|website=Sun-Sentinel}}
3. Darren Pang - color commentator (1999–2004)
4. Barry Melrose – color commentator, NHL All-Star Game, and Stanley Cup Finals studio analyst (1999–2002); lead studio analyst (2003–04)
5. Brian Engblom (2002–04)
6. Brian Hayward (2000 Stanley Cup playoffs)
7. Jim Schoenfeld (2001–2002)

1. Brian Engblom – co-lead rinkside reporter
2. Darren Pang – co-lead rinkside reporter
3. Steve Levy – fill-in studio host, #2 play-by-play man, NHL All-Star Game, and Stanley Cup Finals reporter
4. Sam Ryan
5. Erin Andrews
6. Joe Micheletti
7. Christine Simpson (2001–2003)
8. Daryl Reaugh
9. Mickey Redmond (2001; Detroit Red Wings)
10. Tony Granato (2002 Stanley Cup playoffs)
11. Jack Edwards
12. Eddie Olczyk

• Brian Boucher – #2 color commentator and occasional studio analyst (2022–2023, select games)
• Chris Chelios – lead studio analyst (2021–2023){{Cite web|last=Marchand|first=Andrew|date=2021-06-28|title=ESPN hiring Chris Chelios to join Mark Messier in NHL studio|url=https://nypost.com/2021/06/28/espn-hiring-chris-chelios-to-join-mark-messier-in-nhl-studio/|access-date=2021-06-28|website=New York Post}}
• Laura Rutledge – contributor (2022)
• Marty Smith – contributor (2023)

{{Main|Ratings for The NHL on ABC}}

{{main|ABC Owned Television Stations|Owned-and-operated television stations in the United States|Historical NHL over-the-air television broadcasters}}

{{Reflist}}

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{{succession box|before=NBC|title=NHL network broadcast partner
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{{succession box|before=Fox|title=NHL network broadcast partner
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{{succession box|before=NBC| title=NHL network broadcast partner
in the United States| years=2021–|after=–}}

{{s-end}}

{{National Hockey League on national television}}

{{NHL on ABC}}

{{ESPN National Hockey Night}}

{{ESPN on ABC}}

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