Recently, ESPN released their full schedule for televised games for the 2025-26 season and notably missing are several prominent Canadian franchises. Over the last several seasons ESPN and TNT have been the exclusive rights holders of the NHL in the United States. During that time, these networks have logically promoted American teams more than Canadian teams. This season ESPN has taken that strategy to the extreme leaving off several Canadian teams featuring American stars entirely. <h3>ESPN Leaves Western Canada Off National Television Almost Entirely For 2025-26</h3> Recently, <a href='https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-2025-26-national-television-schedule-announced' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>ESPN released their full national broadcast schedule</a> and according to the list the Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames, and Winnipeg Jets have all been left off having 0 games on ESPN this season. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/puckreportnhl/status/1960704798379876621'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> This strategy from ESPN seems to be incredibly naive heading into the season. The Vancouver Canucks feature Quinn Hughes one of the best defensemen in the NHL who is an American along with star forwards Conor Garland and Brock Boeser as well as goaltender Thatcher Demko. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/scaredhughes/status/1961165310146613388'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/hockey_robinson/status/1957849384864903637'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> Each of these players has a chance to represent the United States at the upcoming Olympics and would be a draw for ESPN. When it comes to the Calgary Flames rookie of the year finalist Dustin Wolf has roots in America and is one of the nations young stars who could be the future of the sport. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/nhl/status/1919529006929498476'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> Then, of course, there is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner and league MVP Connor Hellebuyck an American playing for the Winnipeg Jets alongside American superstar Kyle Connor. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/br_openice/status/1933297081738731907'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/nhl/status/1958274090109681938'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> Even with these massive names with American connections ESPN refuses to put these Western Canadian teams on a national broadcast leading to fan outrage. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/pokercapone/status/1960746403128598882'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/loanshark_bliss/status/1960834690862006780'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/johnny__canada/status/1960707613269602688'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> Even though these franchises are based in Canada each one has a unique draw to an American viewer that ESPN is not taking advantage of. Instead, the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs will be featured a combined 30 times despite having one major American star between the two teams but of course their team success likely did heavy lifting to get them included. As the season gets underway, it will be interesting to see if any of these teams can play well enough to have a game flexed into an ESPN prime time slot.