The NHL may have a ratings problem on its hands if recent figures from Sports Media Watch are any indication. According to the site’s Braylon Breeze, ESPN’s Jan. 30 matchup between the Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks averaged just 175,000 viewers.
Granted, the game aired at 10:30 PM EST and featured two teams that are in the cellar of the worst division in hockey. Its lead-in was a poorly viewed Iowa State-Kansas State women’s basketball game that averaged just 390,000 viewers.
But it’s not all doom and gloom for the NHL. ABC’s Saturday, Feb. 1 matchups drew favorable figures, especially compared to the nightcap from earlier in the week. According to Breeze, Blackhawks/Panthers averaged 723,000 viewers in the opening window, while the Rangers/Bruins drew a season-high 1.1 million viewers in the later window.
That being said, the rest of the NHL’s tentpole events aren’t faring so well, especially compared to other sports. The Winter Classic, the NHL’s trademark New Year’s outdoor game, averaged under a million viewers, which was the second straight year of all-time low viewership. The previous Winter Classic averaged 1.1 million viewers, which was, at the time, the lowest-ever viewership total.
The 2024 Stanley Cup Final game seven between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers drew record viewership for the league. It amassed 16.3 million viewers between ABC, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes, CBC, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports — the second most-watched NHL game across North America on record. Overall, the Stanley Cup Final averaged 8.8 million viewers across North America and 4.2 million viewers in the U.S.
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