NHL Fans Outraged, Calling Out the League for Poorly Planned Scheduling Decisions

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Daniel Lucente
October 22, 2024 (10:06)

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The NHL is trying to grow the game and compete with the other major sports in North America, but poorly planned scheduling isn't helping their case at all.

Hockey fans, prepare for a crazy night in the National Hockey League. Tuesday night's docket sets up to be a frantic night of action, setting the stage for the first historic schedule in quite some time that will keep fans glued to their television sets. For just the second time in NHL history, all 32 teams in the league will take to the ice on the same night, setting up an unprecedented night of hockey with 16 games to take in.

Indeed, this is going to be a monumental night, staged with a daunting schedule that stagers most of the games 15 minutes apart. The action tips off with the Flyers against the Capitals at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN, ending with the Kings against the Golden Knights at 11 p.m. ET. The whole timing is done such that the fans never miss a beat to keep the intensity high from the first drop of the puck to the last. This isn't without its critics, however, as many fans are bashing the league for setting this event up on the very same night as the NBA opener, which will likely keep many viewers tuned away from hockey. Many are wondering why the league and Gary Bettman only had one game yesterday but decided to put on 16 games tonight. These critics have merit.

Those fans willing to tune in for a full night of hockey can watch 6.5 hours of continuous hockey coverage called Frozen Frenzy on several streaming platforms, which is a show committed to offering the ultimate television experience for even the most die-hard fan.

What's more, setting this night apart is how the NHL has listened to past griping about their scheduling. The league took the chance not to stack the games right on top of each other but to space out the start times, and in doing so, they presented something new and fan-friendly. Those moves not only explain the importance of this night but also make things more dynamic in viewing, thus it will be easier for any given fan to keep track of more than one game without frustrating overlaps. This scheduling still doesn't solve the problem of the event being set up on opening night of NBA basketball, which the league may want to take a look at next season.

Down the stretch, NHL Frozen Frenzy is shaping up as the ultimate hockey dream of a slew of games that stretch past nightfall. From the opening puck drop at 6 p.m. until the final whistle well after midnight, this promises to be nonstop action, a unique opportunity for all teams to be seen in action. If you're a fan of the sport, this night should not be missed.