Welcome to another edition of NHL Notebook, where we take a look at current events across the league. It’s also worth a gentle reminder to be careful about what you read out there, with pranksters lurking on the internet today.
NHL, Rogers reportedly reach 12-year Canadian rights deal worth $7.7 billion USD
With the current deal slated to expire at the end of the 2025-26 season, the National Hockey League and Rogers Communication reached a new, 12-year Canadian television rights contract worth $7.7 billion USD, Sportico’s Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams reported Friday.
The new deal will be enacted for the 2026-27 NHL season, and the NHL Board of Governors are expected to vote on the proposed deal. An official announcement could be made this week.
The NHL holds two separate television deals in the United States with ESPN and Turner Network Television, which are worth more than $600 million per year, Sportico reports.
It’s a massive deal that shapes the landscape of Canadian sports television, with many believing that Amazon would put in a massive bid for the television rights. It appears that Hockey Night in Canada and other landmark Sportsnet properties are here to stay.
Panthers’ Tkachuk aiming to return for 1st round of playoffs
Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk is aiming to return for the first round of the playoffs, and skated for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Tkachuk has missed 16 games with the injury and isn’t expected to return for the regular season.
“He was, basically, just out there touching pucks today,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said Monday. “There was no conditioning component to it because we’re just not there yet.
“He will probably just get out on the ice to move some pucks around for the next couple of days, perhaps a week or so. Then, hopefully, we will get to a point where he can start driving.”
Tkachuk was placed on long-term injured reserve on March 2. He’s been an incredible playoff performer for the Panthers, who went all-in at the trade deadline to bolster their roster, with the goal of repeating as Stanley Cup champions. Tkachuk has recorded 22 goals and 57 points in 52 games this season, and could form a menacing line with Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett upon returning to the lineup.
