Sportsnet unveils lineup for 2026-27 national broadcasts
Hockey will still be front and center on Saturday night in Canada, even after Sportsnet and CBC ended their partnership to use the Hockey Night in Canada brand for NHL games, ending 95 years of the brand showcasing Canadian NHL teams.
On Wednesday, Rogers unveiled its 2026-27 NHL broadcasting plans, revealing that Hockey Night in Canada’s old spot on the schedule will be “Saturday Night Hockey,” with the focus remaining on the seven Canadian NHL franchises.
Several personalities from Hockey Night will return to the new show as well, with Eliotte Friedman, Kevin Bieksa and Colby Armstrong returning to the broadcast panel hosted by Ron MacLean, marking a downsize from the expanded panel with Kelly Hrudy and Jennifer Botteril, which took center stage on Hockey Night in recent seasons.
“Sportsnet will showcase more games than ever before with 35% more national broadcasts than last year and fewer blackouts, giving fans unprecedented access to the NHL’s biggest stars and best moments,” said Greg Sansone, President of Sportsnet, in the announcement, with Friedman and Bieksa’s TV fate determined after rumors swirled about their contractual futures.
“Saturday Night Hockey will put Canadian teams front-and-centre, where the compelling games and world’s best players will be the focus of the show, with a studio team that brings unmatched personality and unique perspectives.”
While Saturday nights remain focused on a similar approach to Hockey Night in Canada, Rogers is shifting its “Monday Night Hockey” product to a streaming-exclusive. In the release, the company announced the product would be available only to Sportsnet+ subscribers, and regular linear subscribers with Sportsnet as part of a TV package would need to purchase an additional subscription for $12.99 CAD per month watch those games.
David Amber will host the Monday night broadcasts, with former NHLers turned analysts Luke Gazdic and Justin Williams alongside.
Beyond the newly announced, familiar-looking primary broadcasts, Sportsnet revealed that over 150 games, previously limited by regional blackouts, will now air nationally.
The new-look broadcast will open with the regular season’s opening night on Sept. 29 with a Canadian double-header, as Chris Cuthbert, Craig Simpson, and Kyle Bukauskus lead coverage of the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs, before the focus shifts west for the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers, led by Jack Michaels’ play-by-play, Louie DeBrusk and Gene Principe.
