16 LA Kings games to be featured as a part of NHL’s national broadcast schedule

Happy Wednesday, Insiders!

Perhaps not the television news you’ve been anxiously awaiting, but some television news nonetheless. The LA Kings will have 16 games featured as a part of the NHL’s national broadcast schedule, beginning with Opening Night on October 11 against Colorado, which will be broadcast on TNT. For those who are in-market in Los Angeles, I get it, this is not the bulk of the schedule and it’s really not the television-related information you’re interested in. For those not in Los Angeles, however, this should complete the schedule of viewing for this season, with all other games available via ESPN+. And, for those in Los Angeles, it is certainly some news.

To TLDR this thing, if you’re not interested in reading, anyone watching in Los Angeles will be able to catch 13 games via ESPN, TNT or ESPN+ / Hulu during the regular season. Those who are watching from outside the Los Angeles TV market will have 16 games available via those platforms. Those in LA will have the rest of the slate available via local broadcast, which will be announced by the Kings in the near future. Those outside of LA can watch the rest of the schedule via ESPN+.

ESPN
October 31 – Kings @ Maple Leafs
January 18 – Kings vs. Predators
April 15 – Kings vs. Wild

The Kings will be broadcast on the worldwide leader three times this season, including twice at home. The first ESPN game of the season comes on Halloween, when the Kings visit Toronto. The Kings will also host Nashville on January 18 and Minnesota on April 15, with both games on ESPN proper.

TNT, National
October 11 – Kings vs. Avalanche
November 8 – Kings @ Golden Knights
March 3 – Kings vs. Devils
March 20 – Kings vs. Wild
April 3 – Kings vs. Kraken

TNT, Out Of Market Only
December 20 – Kings vs. Kraken
January 31 – Kings @ Predators
March 13 – Kings @ Blues

The Kings will also play eight games on TNT this season, though only five will be available in all markets. The season begins on October 11, as the Kings host Colorado, with that game available nationally on TNT. The Kings will also play on TNT for fans located in all US markets – November 8 in Vegas, March 3 at home against New Jersey, March 20 against Minnesota at home and April 3 against Seattle on April 3.

Additionally, the Kings will have three games that will be broadcast on TNT out of market, but will be shown by the to-be-announced local rightsholder in the Los Angeles market. The games that fall into this category include December 20 at home versus Seattle, January 31 on the road against Nashville and March 13, away against St. Louis. For those in LA, when the local rights agreement is eventually announced, these three games will be broadcast on that network. For those outside of LA, these games will be available on TNT.

ESPN+ / Hulu
December 19 – Kings @ Sharks
January 2 – Kings vs. Maple Leafs
January 16 – Kings @ Stars
February 22 – Kings vs. Predators
April 4 – Kings @ Sharks

Lastly, the Kings will have five games that will be exclusive to ESPN+ / Hulu, regardless of market. These games will not be broadcast on TV, but exclusively via streaming. The streaming slate opens on December 19, as the Kings visit San Jose and will also include two games in January – the 2nd versus Toronto and the 16th in Dallas – as well as games on February 22 versus Nashville and April 4 against in San Jose.

Additionally, the league announced a pair of start time changes. The game in Boston on February 17 will now start at 9:30 AM Pacific time, 12:30 PM in Boston. The home game against Seattle on April 3 will now begin at 6:30 PM Pacific time.

With regards to the local deal, continued patience is required here, at least in the interim. One of many announcements that will come for us all here in the coming days, weeks, alongside further information on what to expect from the new-look broadcast team, training camp schedules, training camp rosters and more.