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The 2014 season will mark a significant realignment for NHL broadcast rights in Canada, as it marks the first year of ]' 12-year, ]5.2 billion contract for exclusive television and digital media rights to the NHL. The networks of ] (including the ], ], and ]) replace ] as the English-language cable broadcasters of the league, and will maintain exclusivity on Wednesday nights. Exclusive French-language rights were sub-licensed by Rogers to ], with ] and ] replacing ] as the national French-language home of the NHL in Canada.<ref name=snet-500games>{{cite web|title=500-plus NHL games to air under Rogers deal|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nearly-500-nhl-games-to-air-under-rogers-deal/|work=Sportsnet.ca|publisher=Rogers Media|accessdate=February 5, 2014}}</ref><ref name=torstar-nhlplans/><ref name=rogers-numbers>{{cite web|title=By The Numbers: Rogers and the NHL – 2014–15 Season|url=http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2014/02/04/20140204_C7577_DOC_EN_36263.pdf|publisher=Rogers Media|accessdate=February 5, 2014}}</ref><ref name=gandm-rogersnhl14/>
The league's Canadian broadcast agreements with ] and ]/] expired at the end of the ] season.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/cbc-has-much-at-stake-in-next-nhl-television-rights-negotiation/article4601079/ | title=CBC has much at stake in next NHL television rights negotiation | publisher=The Globe and Mail | date=October 11, 2012 | location=Toronto}}</ref> On November 26, 2013, the NHL announced it had sold, for the price of C$5.2 billion, twelve seasons' worth of exclusive national broadcast rights to NHL games to ] who will broadcast games across its numerous platforms, including ], ], and ]. '']'' will continue on the CBC for the next four seasons; the CBC will give Rogers six hours of free airtime each night to air the broadcasts but will pay no rights fee. CBC will be allotted time during the broadcasts to promote its other programming. French language broadcasts will move to ]. The moves leave the Bell Media-] consortium (owners of TSN and RDS) shut out of NHL broadcasts except for its regional properties (as of 2014, these include the rights to all teams east of Saskatchewan—the ], ], ], Canadian rights to the ], and beginning this season, the ]).<ref name=gandm-rogersnhl14>{{cite news|title=Rogers reaches 12-year broadcast deal with NHL worth $5.2-billion|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rogers-reaches-12-year-broadcast-deal-with-nhl-worth-52-billion/article15600412/|work=The Globe and Mail|location=Toronto|date=November 27, 2013}}</ref>
Rogers reached a deal with ] (the previous over-the-air television broadcaster of the NHL) to license the '']'' brand and maintain the network's traditional Saturday night games, along with post-season coverage. ''HNIC'' games will now air nationally across CBC, ], ], and the ] channels, rather than be split across CBC stations regionally. As part of the arrangement, CBC will not pay a rights fee to either Rogers or the NHL, all of the telecasts will be ] by Rogers in which the company will maintain editorial control and sell all advertising time. CBC will be allotted advertising time across Rogers' networks to promote its own programming. City will also introduce a new primetime, Sunday night game of the week.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/cbc-has-much-at-stake-in-next-nhl-television-rights-negotiation/article4601079/ | title=CBC has much at stake in next NHL television rights negotiation | publisher=The Globe and Mail | date=October 11, 2012 | location=Toronto}}</ref><ref name=gandm-rogersnhl14>{{cite news|title=Rogers reaches 12-year broadcast deal with NHL worth $5.2-billion|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rogers-reaches-12-year-broadcast-deal-with-nhl-worth-52-billion/article15600412/|work=The Globe and Mail|location=Toronto|date=November 27, 2013}}</ref>
With the loss of national cable rights, TSN's coverage in the 2014-15 NHL season will be re-aligned around regional coverage with the August 2014 introduction of three new channels—], ], and ], which will broadcast regional ], ], and ] games respectively.<ref name=tsn-regionalNHL/> TSN4 will air a new regional package of 26 Maple Leafs games,<ref name=tsn-regionalNHL>{{cite web|title=Sens, Lets, and Leafs featured regionally on TSN's feeds|url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=459687|website=TSN.ca|publisher=Bell Media|accessdate=August 24, 2014}}</ref> and TSN5 will now air regional Senators games as part of a new 12-year deal between the team and TSN's parent company ] (which also includes French-language regional rights for RDS, and an extension of ]'s radio rights).<ref name=tsn-newsenscontract>{{cite web|title=TSN, TSN Radio 1200 become Senators' broadcasters|url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=442467|work=TSN.ca|publisher=]|accessdate=January 29, 2014}}</ref><ref name=sun-tsnsens>{{cite web|title=Senators to sign major new TV deal with Bell, TSN|url=http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/01/28/senators-to-sign-major-new-tv-deal-with-bell-tsn|work=Ottawa Sun|publisher=]|accessdate=January 29, 2014}}</ref><ref name=tsn-regionalNHL/>
RDS will continue its long-standing relationship with the ], but on a regional basis under a new 12-year contract. Unlike the previous contract, the Montreal Canadiens did not bundle rights to its games with the national French-language rights to the NHL, and elected to negotiate regional rights separately.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/hockeys-french-connection/article15642270/|title=TVA to pay Rogers $120-million a year to be NHL's French-language broadcaster|first=Sophie|last=Cousineau|work=]|date=2013-11-28|accessdate=2013-12-20|location=Toronto}}</ref><ref name=tsn-rdscanadienscontract>{{cite web|title=RDS, Canadiens announce 12-year regional rights deal|url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=439497|work=TSN.ca|accessdate=22 December 2013}}</ref>
The 2014–15 NHL season is the 98th season of operation (97th season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL).
League business
As part of the deal approved by the City of Glendale to keep the team from relocating, the "Phoenix Coyotes" changed their name to the Arizona Coyotes before the start of the 2014–15 season.
Canadian TV deals
The 2014 season will mark a significant realignment for NHL broadcast rights in Canada, as it marks the first year of Rogers Communications' 12-year, $5.2 billion contract for exclusive television and digital media rights to the NHL. The networks of Sportsnet (including the Sportsnet regional channels, Sportsnet One, and Sportsnet 360) replace TSN as the English-language cable broadcasters of the league, and will maintain exclusivity on Wednesday nights. Exclusive French-language rights were sub-licensed by Rogers to Quebecor Media, with TVA and TVA Sports replacing RDS as the national French-language home of the NHL in Canada.
Rogers reached a deal with CBC Television (the previous over-the-air television broadcaster of the NHL) to license the Hockey Night in Canada brand and maintain the network's traditional Saturday night games, along with post-season coverage. HNIC games will now air nationally across CBC, City, FX Canada, and the Sportsnet channels, rather than be split across CBC stations regionally. As part of the arrangement, CBC will not pay a rights fee to either Rogers or the NHL, all of the telecasts will be time-buys by Rogers in which the company will maintain editorial control and sell all advertising time. CBC will be allotted advertising time across Rogers' networks to promote its own programming. City will also introduce a new primetime, Sunday night game of the week.
With the loss of national cable rights, TSN's coverage in the 2014-15 NHL season will be re-aligned around regional coverage with the August 2014 introduction of three new channels—TSN3, TSN4, and TSN5, which will broadcast regional Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ottawa Senators games respectively. TSN4 will air a new regional package of 26 Maple Leafs games, and TSN5 will now air regional Senators games as part of a new 12-year deal between the team and TSN's parent company Bell Media (which also includes French-language regional rights for RDS, and an extension of CFGO's radio rights).
RDS will continue its long-standing relationship with the Montreal Canadiens, but on a regional basis under a new 12-year contract. Unlike the previous contract, the Montreal Canadiens did not bundle rights to its games with the national French-language rights to the NHL, and elected to negotiate regional rights separately.
Rule changes
The following rule changes will be voted upon by the NHL Board of Governors prior to the season:
The trapezoidal areas behind each net in which goaltenders are allowed to play the puck are to be made 4 feet (1.2 m) wider than their current width.
The width of the hashmarks outside the faceoff circles will be extended from their current 3.5 feet to five feet.
Prior to any overtime period, both teams will change ends and the ice will be dry-scraped by an ice resurfacer. The league hopes that the "long line changes" and the better ice surfaces will increase scoring in overtime, and thus decrease shootouts.
Coaches no longer have to submit a list of shootout participants as it begins. The coaches will be free as to who they will pick next.
Teams that ice the puck can only use one center to make the ensuring faceoff. If that player attempts to get kicked out of the faceoff to buy his team time, he'll get a two-minute delay-of-game penalty.
The wording "embellishment" will be changed to allow an escalating scale of fines to repeat-offense players and coaches.
Uniforms
The Arizona Coyotes added a new patch on their home and away jerseys as part of their name change.
The Anaheim Ducks added a new away jersey to match the alternate "webbed D" as their new primary jerseys, replacing the “Anaheim Ducks” word mark.
The Philadelphia Flyers have confirmed that they will have a new third jersey in time for the 2014-15 season.
The St. Louis Blues will have new home and away jerseys; the alternate will remain along with the new set.
Regular season
The regular season will begin on October 8, 2014 and end on April 11, 2015. The Chicago Blackhawks and the Washington Capitals will play in the 2015 NHL Winter Classic on January 1. Both the first Saturday (October 11) and the last day (April 11) of the regular season will feature 15 games (all 30 teams).
Muller was fired on May 5, 2014, after accumulating a 80-80-27 record in three seasons with no trips to the playoffs. On June 19, Peters succeeds after serving three seasons as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings.
Horachek was fired after one season on April 29, 2014, after going 26-36-4. On June 21, Gallant succeeds after serving two seasons as an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens.
Trotz was fired on April 14, 2014, after fifteen seasons. He accumulated a 557-479-160 regular season record and a 19-31 playoff record. On May 6, Laviolette succeeds after serving six seasons as head coach with the Philadelphia Flyers. He guided the Flyers to the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals where they lost in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Byslma was fired on June 6, 2014, after serving on the team from 2009–2014. He accumulated a 252-117-32 regular season record and a 43-35 postseason record. In 2009, he guided the team to win the Stanley Cup. For his efforts during the 2010-11 season, he was awarded the Jack Adams Award as the league's most outstanding coach. On June 25, Johnston succeeds after serving on the Portland Winterhawks as a head coach from 2008-2014, where he compiled a record of 231-114-10-10. In 2013, he guided the team to win the Ed Chynoweth Cup.
Tortorella was fired after one season on May 1, 2014, after going 36-35-11. On June 23, Desjardins succeeds after two seasons as head coach with the Texas Stars. In his tenure with Texas, he went 91-40-21, won two division titles, a Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy for finishing with the most points in the regular season, a Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award as the league's most outstanding coach and a Calder Cup in 2013.
Oates was fired after two seasons on April 26, 2014 after compiling a 65-48-17 record. In his first season, he took the Capitals to the playoffs by winning the Southeast Division. They ended up loosing to the New York Rangers in the first round 4-3. On May 26, Trotz succeeds after fifteen seasons as head coach with Nashville Predators. In his tenure with Nashville, he accumulated a 557-479-160 regular season record and a 19-31 playoff record.