Schedule Day

The NHL released its 2010-2011 schedule earlier today. Although the league should be commended for moving ahead the release day of this important document by almost one month compared to past seasons, it was nonetheless disappointing to see that the document did not contain broadcast information for the national networks. I guess it would be too much to ask to have our cake and eat it too.

A broadcast schedule will follow at some point over the summer, but all we can do for now is speculate as per what it will look like. Although TSN’s plans are too difficult to determine because the network airs games at different times and at different days throughout the week, CBC is a pretty predictable creature with its Saturday night doubleheaders. And so, after a special Thursday night broadcast to open the season on October 7 (the previously announced Canadiens-Leafs followed by the Flames-Oilers), look for the Saturday telecasts to begin in earnest on October 9 with regional action of the Senators-Leafs and Canadiens-Penguins followed by the Kings-Canucks.

One interesting quirk is CBC’s contractual obligation to not show the Leafs on three Saturdays throughout the year. From what I see on the schedule, the public broadcaster might have found a cute loophole in that the Leafs are only absent from Saturday nights on two hockey dates – October 16 and January 8. There is technically a third “non-Leaf” Saturday – Christmas – when there aren’t any hockey games at all.

Some other observations about CBC’s theoretical schedule for the upcoming year include a pair of rare Saturday afternoon game for the Canadiens on December 4 against the Sharks and March 12 against the Penguins (to go along with the traditional Super Bowl Weekend afternoon games on February 5 and 6 against the Rangers and Devils respectively), as well as a special Sunday telecast at six o’clock for the outdoor game on February 20 between the Canadiens-Flames.

Over at RDS, of course, the French-language specialty channel will once again provide coverage of all 82 Canadiens games, together with periodic Senators contests and other games from around the league. One interesting date to note is October 29 when a Canadiens game will coincide with a Montreal Alouettes contest in the Canadian Football League. RDS, which covers both teams, will have to move the Alouettes game to digital sister station RIS.

Look for subtle revisions of the schedule to made between now and the start of the regular season. Here’s hoping we get confirmations of the broadcast schedules well before then!