Remember when the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes did record numbers in the ratings department last summer? People said that the two teams wouldn't draw and it would be boring. Well, both teams proved them wrong and the NHL noticed that with the Golden Knights.
On Wednesday, the NHL announced that the Golden Knights would have 15 nationally televised games in the 2026-27 season. That consists of seven games on TNT, five games on ESPN, two games on ESPN+, and the Stadium Series game in Arlington, Texas, on ABC.
- September 29: vs. Chicago (ESPN)
- October 20: vs. Tampa Bay (ESPN)
- November 11: vs. Utah (TNT)
- November 17: vs. Dallas (TNT)
- November 19: vs. Dallas (ESPN+)
- November 24: at Edmonton (TNT)
- December 16: vs. San Jose (TNT)
- December 22: at Anaheim (TNT)
- January 7: vs. Minnesota (ESPN)
- January 20: vs. Edmonton (TNT)
- February 20: at Dallas (ABC)
- February 24: vs. Florida (TNT)
- March 7: at New York Rangers (ESPN)
- March 9: vs. San Jose (ESPN+)
- April 6: vs. St. Louis (ESPN)
On top of that, the NHL made some modifications to Vegas's schedule. Six games had their times changed for the Golden Knights, with the following contests changed:
- November 11: vs. Utah (6:30 PM PST)
- December 22: at Anaheim (6:30 PM PST)
- February 18: vs. Columbus (7 PM PST)
- March 7: at New York Rangers (4 PM PST)
- March 9: vs. San Jose (7:30 PM PST)
- April 6: vs. St. Louis (7:30 PM PST)
Once again, the Golden Knights are prime-time players who are set to take the national stage. It's no secret that they're must-see television based on their backstory. A playoff appearance in every season except 2021-22, three Stanley Cup Final appearances, and a Stanley Cup since 2017 will draw plenty of eyeballs and attract a ton of fans.
The NHL should get used to seeing more of the Vegas Golden Knights, whether the fans like it or not
You can make up all the Gary Bettman conspiracy theories you want. You can accuse the NHL Commissioner of falling head over heels for the Golden Knights. But the proof is in the pudding: The Golden Knights are a major draw.
Look at last season's Stanley Cup Final ratings between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Golden Knights. Despite the concerns about the absence of Original Six teams, Game 6 peaked at 7.2 million viewers around the 10:45-11 PM EST hour, drawing 5.9 million viewers overall.
As a result, the NHL looks to bank on the Golden Knights being a consistent draw. It's partially why they're heading to Jerryworld in February for a Stadium Series game. It's also why they have 15 nationally televised games in 2026-27.
Get ready to see plenty of gray and gold on your television screens, Golden Knights fans. The NHL is propping up one of the most controversial teams for the world to see in 2026-27 and the stars are coming out. Time to anger (or please) the hockey world with a grand ol' spectacle.
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