NHL says '26 playoffs most-watched on record
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- NHL said the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs averaged 1.8 million U.S. viewers, the most-watched in the league's recorded history
- The new average surpassed the previous mark of 1.56 million viewers that had stood since 1996
- Average playoff viewership climbed 68% from last year's postseason
- ESPN reported the Carolina–Vegas Final was the most-watched Stanley Cup Final since 2019
- Carolina beat Vegas in six games, in a Final that lacked several of hockey's biggest markets
- Part of the ratings increase reflects a change in Nielsen's methodology for counting viewers
- Hockey is seeing a popularity spike, especially among women, driven by the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Olympics, and shows like "Heated Rivalry" and "Off Campus"
Why it matters: The 68% year-over-year jump breaks a 30-year-old record, but the source itself flags that part of the gain is Nielsen changing how it counts viewers. A 1.8M average — achieved in a Final without hockey's biggest markets — points to audience expansion with direct implications for the league's future broadcast rights value.
