Commissioner Gary Bettman projects the NHL revenue will cross the historic $7 billion mark soon. In early March, Bettman said the league’s financial situation had “never been better,” and will only continue to go upward from here. Yet as the league grows its viewership and plans to expand in the coming seasons, some have pointed toward a particular issue with the NHL season itself.
With the playoff starting in less than four days, 13 teams have clinched their spot in the final race for the Staley Cup. Yet, while the time when teams are fighting for the last three wildcards should generate a lot of excitement among the county, it’s doing the opposite. @Buccigross jumped on X to say how they saw it: “The season is too long and the players are bored. Playoffs, please.”
While the NHL community may often view statements like these as hot takes, this particular post became a genuine point of discussion even among the experts of the sport. Respected TSN journalist Pierre LeBrun picked up the post to suggest how the league may go about trimming the fat. “If I could convince the NHL and NHLPA: Start the regular season around Sept. 22,” said LeBrun.
“Start Stanley Cup playoffs first week of April, award Stanley Cup by early June, hold draft around June 20, open free agency June 25-26. You’re welcome, everyone,” suggested the reporter. And he wasn’t the only one. Veteran play-by-play announcer, Ralph Strangis, with about three decades of experience, chimed in with a different suggestion.
If I could convince the NHL and NHLPA:
Start the regular season around Sept. 22, start Stanley Cup playoffs first week of April, award Stanley Cup by early June, hold draft around June 20, open free agency June 25-26.
You’re welcome, everyone. https://t.co/cZmZB6DeAt
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) April 14, 2025
“I’d go the extreme other way. Get away from football in the States. Get the playoffs on a stage all to yourself. Camp in November. Season starts in December. Playoffs run June and July. Nothing but mid-season baseball to compete against. FA mid-August. There would be a chance at huge financial gains this way,” said Strangis. Meanwhile, another NHL fan made a similar suggestion to avoid viewership competition.
User @Redstorm2022 suggests an even later start to the season. The reason? “Nothing is going on in June & July; NHL will OWN those 2 months,” they wrote. With that being said, Pierre LeBrun provided a likely explanation as to why the league will start late in the season.
Does it all depend on NHL viewership?
After the TSN journalist gave his two cents on the topic, one fan got curious. The hockey enthusiast asked what “counter-argument” LeBurn has heard from owners/GMs about the season starting late. While the 53-year-old explained that those arguments have faded over time. Meanwhile, ESPN plays a big role in the “here and now.”
“It’s more about ESPN not wanting NHL season to start when it has MLB playoffs on in early October,” said LeBrun. A late start means the Stanley Cup gets pushed back later into June. So that means even ESPN hopes to avoid competing between major sports to risk losing the viewership numbers. However, those who can’t wait for the playoffs to start may be in for a surprise this year.
Four of the Original Six teams have failed to qualify for the playoffs, and they are all from the USA. In a shocking twist, the Blackhawks, Bruins, Rangers, and Red Wings fans won’t see their team compete for the Stanley Cup for the first time since the league’s formation in 1917. That’s over a 100-year window. In fact, only the Toronto Maple Leafs are in the playoffs.
While the Montreal Canadiens are on the cusp of clinching the wild card, the last of the Original Six are yet to make it. The defending champions and other top teams like the Edmonton Oilers, Washington Capitals, and more are in the playoffs. Yet the absence of the U.S.-based OGs, especially last year’s Presidents’ Trophy winner, could seriously affect viewership in the States. Now the question is: Will the NHL viewership drop? And will that affect how and when the 2025-26 commences?
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