NBCSN breaks away from NHL Draft without notice before 1st round was over ... in as horrendous a move as is possible

By Kevin Canessa Jr.
NewJersey-Devils Publisher

PHILADELPHIA —

When the clock struck 10 p.m. last night, NBC Sports Network broke away from coverage of the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft, and except for a stupid crawl at the bottom of the screen that said “Programming Alert,” said absolutely nothing about it.

Of course, they really couldn’t say anything about it since they were borrowing TSN’s coverage (which, by the way, was the last official NHL-related TSN broadcast for the foreseeable future, thanks to Rogers SportsNet).

And while it pales in comparison to the “Heidi Jets Game,” it’s nonetheless a sign that the NHL still gets little respect, even from its broadcast partners.

What is clear is NBCSN only had a three-hour window for the draft. Once the time frame was up, they went to some other programming. I was so pissed I don’t even remember what it was that was so important to preempt the last three picks in the draft’s first round.

Now mind you, the rest of the first round was available on NHL Network and NBC Sports Live Extra. But not everyone has access to the NHL Network -- and certainly, most don’t use Live Extra, though I do.

Bottom line here -- no other sport would allow this. Imagine ESPN breaking away from the NFL draft for Sportscenter? It just wouldn’t happen.

But it still happens in the NHL.

And it’s part of the reason the sport we love so much will always play fourth-fiddle to the other big three.

Horrendous job by the league -- and even more horrendous job by NBC Sports Network.

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