Gary Bettman and the NHL called out for bad scheduling ahead of 16-game Frozen Frenzy tonight

PUBLICATION

TJ Tucker
October 22, 2024  (10:45)

SHARE THIS STORY

Photo credit: Sportsnet

Every NHL team will be in action tonight during Frozen Frenzy, but many are questioning the scheduling decisions of the NHL and Commissioner Gary Bettman.

It's a hockey fan's dream tonight as all 32 NHL teams are in action in 16 games during the NHL's Frozen Frenzy. The timing of it all has left some people scratching their heads, though.

Monday night saw just one game on the schedule for the NHL as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning squared off on Amazon Prime. As pointed out by fans on social media, the NHL, which is losing ground in the ratings to the WNBA, chose to place Frozen Frenzy in direct competition with opening night of the NBA.

It's not the best look for the NHL, which doesn't compete head on with the NBA when it comes to viewers. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman recently announced the cancelation of a televised NHL Awards show due to lack of interest, and decisions like this make you wonder sometimes if the NHL might be its own worst enemy. It's also worth noting that every single game in the NHL tonight will have a different start time.

While fans will be happy with the amount of TV time hockey will get tonight, putting it up against opening night of the NBA does nothing to get new fans into the sport. This seems to be where the NHL is really struggling, and it needs to get its act together before the ratings start dropping even further. If the NHL wants hockey to survive and thrive in markets like Utah, Florida, and Nevada, more needs to be done.

Warning: include(/home//inout/pub_inline.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/marqueur/public_html/news/auto/blogs_id/443513.php on line 37

Warning: include(): Failed opening '/home//inout/pub_inline.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/opt/cpanel/ea-php74/root/usr/share/pear') in /home/marqueur/public_html/news/auto/blogs_id/443513.php on line 37

Previously

Seattle Kraken forced to make roster move after star defenseman Vince Dunn suffers long-term injury

Former Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer calls out Ryan Reaves for recent soft play

New York Rangers players seen partying in Montreal before their game against the Canadiens

POLL
OCTOBRE 22   |   337 ANSWERS Gary Bettman and the NHL called out for bad scheduling ahead of 16-game Frozen Frenzy tonight Will you be watching the NHL's Frozen Frenzy tonight, or the opening night of the NBA?
NHL	267	79.2 %
NBA	16	4.7 %
Both	11	3.3 %
Not sure	43	12.8 %
LIST OF POLLS

MUST READ

Feb 28  |  By Tom Banks Vancouver Canucks' Contract Offer to Brock Boeser Leaks Publicly

Feb 28  |  By Tom Banks Montreal Canadiens Star Undergoes Season-Ending Knee Surgery

Feb 28  |  By Daniel Lucente Philadelphia Flyers Officially Looking to Trade Former 39-Goal Scorer

Feb 28  |  By Daniel Lucente Evander Kane May Be in His Final Days in Edmonton After Friedman Reveals New Information

Feb 28  |  By Mike Whitaker Maple Leafs Forward Pulls Back Trade Request

Feb 27  |  By Mike Whitaker Brad Marchand Goes Viral for Passionate Video Ahead of Four Nations Faceoff Final

Feb 27  |  By Mike Whitaker David Pastrnak's Latest Comments Suggest Bruins Will Be Big Sellers at the Deadline

Feb 27  |  By Julien Trekker 6-Foot-6 Winger Linked to the New York Rangers at the Trade Deadline

MORE STORIES