Sportsnet locks in 2026–27 NHL broadcast team, expands national lineup

Following weeks of speculation, Sportsnet has locked in its marquee talent for the upcoming 2026–27 NHL season, anchoring a broadcast slate that features more than 550 national games and a dramatic reduction in regional blackouts.

Ron MacLean, Kevin Bieksa, Elliotte Friedman, and Colby Armstrong are confirmed to return to Saturday Night Hockey, Sportsnet’s rebrand of Hockey Night in Canada, as the national game will be absent from CBC’s TV schedule for the first time in 74 years.

They’ll host a weekly doubleheader spotlighting Canadian teams, starting Oct. 3.

“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,” said Sportsnet President Greg Sansone, in a network announcement.

Sportsnet’s full slate represents a 35% increase in national broadcasts over last season, alongside the lifting of 150 regional blackouts to give fans across the country unrestricted access to out-of-market action.

A new era for Monday nights

Sportsnet's Monday Night Hockey lineup

The network’s expanded coverage also redefines start-of-the-week viewing, which will now stream exclusively on Sportsnet+. Monday Night Hockey returns Oct. 5, hosted by David Amber alongside analysts Luke Gazdic and Justin Williams.

National regular season Monday night NHL games return to Sportsnet after streaming on Prime Video for the past two seasons. Rogers announced a 12-year sub-licensing agreement with Prime in Canada to exclusively broadcast Wednesday night regular-season NHL games in English and French, beginning with the 2026-27 season.

That agreement encompasses a minimum of 26 national regular-season NHL games, as well as exclusive rights to select Stanley Cup Playoff series in Canada, including two First Round playoff series and one Second Round series per year.

Puck drops Sept. 29

The 2026–27 campaign kicks off Sept. 29 with an all-Canadian opening-night doubleheader, with pre-game coverage getting underway at 6:30 p.m. ET on Hockey Central.

7 p.m. ET: Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (Chris Cuthbert, Craig Simpson, Kyle Bukauskus)
10 p.m. ET: Vancouver Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers (Jack Michaels, Louie DeBrusk, Gene Principe)

Sportsnet will also serve as the home for major tentpole events – including the NHL Heritage Classic (Oct. 25), Winter Classic (Dec. 31), All-Star Weekend (Feb. 5–6), and Stadium Series (Feb. 20) – alongside full coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, save for three early-round series airing on Prime Video.

With concern about the national game moving behind paywalls as it departs the CBC, the network says Sportsnet+ Premium subscribers continue to get access to all content available in the Standard package, plus all out-of-market games, and a new feature that allows fans to choose between home and away broadcast feeds.

TV subscribers can unlock Monday Night Hockey and over 100 additional U.S. team matchups by signing into Sportsnet+ with their provider credentials and adding the package for $12.99/month, beginning Sept. 15.

Starting Sept. 29, Rogers is additionally adding three new digital channels with exclusive content to Rogers Xfinity TV packages that include Sportsnet, that will encompass access to Monday Night Hockey.