The last time NBC was not a national TV partner for the NHL, the Islanders’ leading scorers were Trent Hunter and Oleg Kvasha, the Rangers’ coach for most of the season was Glen Sather, and Alexis Lafreniere was 2 years old.
That was in 2003-04. But so it will be again when this season ends, after NBC dropped out of the bidding for part of the league’s new seven-year television package, Sports Business Journal reported on Monday.
SBJ also reported Turner Sports likely will land the portion of the TV deal NBC had been among the candidates for, including the Stanley Cup Finals in 2023, ’25 and ’27, an announcement that could come this week.