I think part of the problem NHL releases the schedule a few days after the season ends. At least the NBA/NFL wait until after free agency. They release the schedule in late July so networks have a better idea who should be good or not. This should have been an ESPN or ABC game especially with no NBA on except the ASG
Yeah, that is dumb but they should still generally have a good idea who's gonna be good/exciting. There isn't nearly as much player movement in the NHL as the NBA.
For next season, whoever wins the Lottery in May should have a bunch of national games for Bedard.
Of course, instead, they'll probably keep scheduling Original Six plus Nashville, Dallas (although they have Robertson now), Columbus, with some Washington/Pittsburgh (those two make sense) sprinkled in.
I swear almost every late game on TNT is either LA, Anaheim or San Jose.
They need to get off the American angle too. Toronto plays the most entertaining games in the league AND they have the best American player. They should be all over the national schedule.
Unless there's major roster changes, Toronto, Colorado and Edmonton should get the most games. After that, I'd probably put Tampa, Boston, New Jersey, and the Rangers for the East and Dallas, Seattle and Vegas for the West.