2025-26 NHL Season thread

[FatButcher]

Why not start one...good times have begun on ESPN+

[stoopid]

Looks like the same price as last season ($11.99 /month).

https://plus.espn.com/nhl

[FatButcher]

Best value I've gotten from a streaming deal in a long time last season.

[anusinha]

Ill consider it a victory if the Sharks dont end up in last place again

[stoopid]

Originally Posted by FatButcher

Best value I've gotten from a streaming deal in a long time last season.

Depends a bit on what team you're a fan of and where you live. Being a Boston fan living on the West coast, I get almost 3/4 of the games through Espn+.

Trying to get ALL the games for the Bruins is expensive as they're a darling of NHLN and TNT broadcasts, and I can't justify spending the money on the more expensive subscriptions to those channels through Sling or similar service for a couple games each month.

Sadly the team(s) and their local broadcast license rights haven't fought to open subscriptions to everyone, they only allow in-market (local Boston) subscribers. I'm sure Espn streaming the games out of market has something to do with it, and being the bigger fish they get exclusive access to that part of the pie. This is why we can't have nice things -- instead of doing the common sense thing, drooling midrange accountants rule the world and nickel/dime their bonuses from our wallets.

Long gone are the days of the NHL.tv annual subscription with just as many or more games.

[FatButcher]

Originally Posted by stoopid

Depends a bit on what team you're a fan of and where you live. Being a Boston fan living on the West coast, I get almost 3/4 of the games through Espn+.

Trying to get ALL the games for the Bruins is expensive as they're a darling of NHLN and TNT broadcasts, and I can't justify spending the money on the more expensive subscriptions to those channels through Sling or similar service for a couple games each month.

Sadly the team(s) and their local broadcast license rights haven't fought to open subscriptions to everyone, they only allow in-market (local Boston) subscribers. I'm sure Espn streaming the games out of market has something to do with it, and being the bigger fish they get exclusive access to that part of the pie. This is why we can't have nice things -- instead of doing the common sense thing, drooling midrange accountants rule the world and nickel/dime their bonuses from our wallets.

Long gone are the days of the NHL.tv annual subscription with just as many or more games.

As a Hawks fan who grew up during the Papa Wirtz years where "0" games were available without pay per view I'm pretty easy to please.

I ended up watching bits and pieces of a lot of different teams last year which helped the value too.

[ThatGuyPal]

What will be the storyline this year?

Last year was Ovi’s record chase, year before was Bedard and Matthews going for 70, year before was McDavid showing why he’s best in the league again etc

[mwash1983]

Originally Posted by ThatGuyPal

What will be the storyline this year?

Last year was Ovi’s record chase, year before was Bedard and Matthews going for 70, year before was McDavid showing why he’s best in the league again etc

Olympics.

[creasecollector]

Another year... Go Leafs Go !

[stoopid]

Originally Posted by FatButcher

I ended up watching bits and pieces of a lot of different teams last year which helped the value too.

I watch a lot of Jets games now, so 100% agree I extract value but without that it's a slightly lesser experience than before [and I would have still had those same Jets games available to me, anyway].

I'd happily pay more for all but the national broadcast games, which I'd get to watch in other ways 'nationally'. But being denied that option when well outside of a team's market seems sus/manipulative, and perhaps punitive to those fans.

To be clear, I'm specifically referring to the inability to signup for NESN Plus outside of the Boston area. There's random games that can be viewed in NESN Plus but not on ESPN+. That lack of choice in deciding for myself is the issue.

[stoopid]

Originally Posted by ThatGuyPal

What will be the storyline this year?

Covid 25, civil war, and Celebrini scoring 60 goals and the Hart on a last place Sharks team.

[FatButcher]

I thought Marc Andre Fleury was retiring, but lo and behold he's showing up in the Penguins pre-season box score.

I missed a few transactions, but thought I would have heard he decided to come back.

[anusinha]

Originally Posted by FatButcher

I thought Marc Andre Fleury was retiring, but lo and behold he's showing up in the Penguins pre-season box score.

I missed a few transactions, but thought I would have heard he decided to come back.

This was his last game, kind of a ceremonial exit.

[JECpsu]

Originally Posted by anusinha

This was his last game, kind of a ceremonial exit.

Yep - was awesome & a great week of clips with him, Geno, Sid, and Kris acting like rookies again. Glad he had one more game in the black and gold.

[FatButcher]

Makes sense, and that is even better than the usual sign for a day with the old team approach. I haven't seen it where they actually play a bit to go out.

[ThatGuyPal]

I haven’t either but that’s sick especially for fans who get to see him. I’d imagine it’s also a lot cheaper to go to pre-season although if this was widely known guessing tickets were more

[ThatGuyPal]

Opening Day!

[ThatGuyPal]

Any new guys to look out for tonight? According to NHL.com Noah Laba and Ben Kindel who play against each other were both surprise roster editions. Kindel is only 18 and has three points in pre-season, guessing he could be a nice S2/Extended addition if he does well.

[FatButcher]

Encouraging effort by my Hawks to start the season. Nazar continues to look like the most dangerous forward on the team, Levshunov really needs to tighten up his game.

[anusinha]

Beckett Sennecke makes the Ducks OD roster, watch for him is s2/ext.

[Ewing33]

Rangers in mid season form

[FatButcher]

Originally Posted by ThatGuyPal

Any new guys to look out for tonight? According to NHL.com Noah Laba and Ben Kindel who play against each other were both surprise roster editions. Kindel is only 18 and has three points in pre-season, guessing he could be a nice S2/Extended addition if he does well.

Kindel looked up to the task for one night at least. Laba was fine, the Rangers as a whole were pretty uninspiring though.

[ThatGuyPal]

I see MacKinnon is still MacKinnon

[FatButcher]

Originally Posted by ThatGuyPal

I see MacKinnon is still MacKinnon

Like a metronome, steady outstanding play.

[ThatGuyPal]

Matthews and Nylander with the easy goals tonight lol Hutson and Demidov do nada