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The first week of the 2023-2024 NHL season is complete, so that means we welcome a new segment on the website, “Who’s Up, Who’s Down”.
Who’s Up – ESPN
The biggest winner of the opening week of the NHL season undoubtedly goes to the network of ESPN. For beginners, they rightfully and heavily promoted the opening night of the season, especially with Bedard’s debut. NHL promotion on ESPN could be seen everywhere from First Take to the Pat McAfee Show. In addition, ESPN’s opening night tripleheader was an obvious win from the moment it was scheduled, and as we saw, it became the most-watched opening night in NHL history.
The viewership wasn’t the only thing that was much improved for ESPN, their production quality was as well. From where ESPN started two years ago, they have vastly enhanced their coverage of the NHL. Everywhere from the broadcaster crews to the audio levels were about as good of quality as a hockey fan could ask for.
ESPN will be hoping to continue their NHL steam into next week as they host a doubleheader on Tuesday night with the Lightning-Sabres and Avalanche-Kraken, along with airing Bedard and the Blackhawks against the Avalanche on Thursday night.
Who’s Down – NHL App
As most people know, this off-season the NHL app underwent a complete restructuring and it has not been for the best, to put it lightly. In past years, the NHL undoubtedly had one of the best apps that one could use. The layout was very clean and concise and had everything you needed as a hockey fan. Now, the same amount of content may be included in the app, but you would never find it as a user. The new layout is a complete mess that is clunky and looks about as bland as a box of saltine crackers. Media personalities have also not been quiet to share their dissatisfaction with the new app:
As bad as it may sound, there is zero reason to even use the NHL app anymore. Hockey fans are much better equipped to just use the ESPN app to get their hockey information. Over there, you can at least find what you are looking for within a few seconds, not a few minutes.
I will leave my thoughts on the new NHL app at this: If the NHL was striving to make the most non-user-friendly app ever created, they have achieved their goal with the new layout.
That was this week’s “Who’s Up, Who’s Down”. I would like to leave everyone with one last thing though. Thank you all so much for the unprecedented amount of support. The website has already garnered thousands of views and it has been more of a success than I could have ever asked for. Hopefully, I can continue to provide you all with the content you are enjoying so far. With that said, we have two more NHL games lined up today, enjoy your Sunday everyone!