ESPN To Air NHL Games Again

UNDATED (AP) – The NHL will be returning to ESPN beginning next season.  People familiar with the deal told The Associated Press the two sides have reached agreement on a seven-year contract that includes four Stanley Cup Finals. The deal was first reported by SportsNet in Canada.  NBC is in the final season of a 10-year contract worth $2 billion that gives it national NHL rights, but the league will air on multiple networks in its next agreement.  NBC has aired games since 2005 and is still among the bidders for the other part of the deal, which includes three Stanley Cup Finals.