Back in the '90s and early 2000s, the NHL's coverage was excellent during their ABC and ESPN broadcasts. After the 2004-2005 NHL lockout, the league and their ESPN coverage disbanded, due to ESPN severing ties over money. After 2005, while the NHL refused to pay ESPN a guaranteed, up-front fee for its services, the NHL was still in high demand for a reputable media outlet like both ESPN and ABC.

After the lockout, in August of 2005 Comcast paid for a three-year, $70 million deal for the NHL to be broadcast on OLN/Versus (now known as NBCSN), after ESPN eased their way out of their deal with the NHL and ABC didn't renew their rights.

ESPN's National Hockey Night coverage lasted for 12 seasons, from 1992-2004, while the NHL on ABC broadcasts lasted for (during two separate terms) five seasons (from 1993-94, then from 2000-2004).

Being on two major networks again, like ESPN and ABC, instead of one (NBC) would bring life back into hockey, despite the lockout being over a decade old. While NBC is one of the most popular TV networks, the station's coverage has been arguably lackluster and unpopular, with controversial commentator Mike Milbury leading the pack.

For ESPN and ABC's hockey coverage, the animated and excellent Gary Thorne and sidekick Bill Clement were an excellent tandem, with the two stations having respectable studio coverage, too. ESPN broadcasts every other professional sports league's games except for the NHL, and although die-hard hockey fans will always remain, a change in scenery could help bring in new fans of the sport, too.

The NHL's coverage on both of the two stations was some of the best hockey broadcasting over the past half century.

Dear Gary Bettman and the NHL, when the NHL/NBC deal runs out in 2021, please bring back ESPN and ABC into the fold.

Signed, angry fan.

Kyle Lutz