It looks like the NHL is going to roll with divisional realignment this season to navigate the COVID-19 rules that differ between the United States and Canada.

When the season gets underway, we’ll see one division filled entirely with Canada’s seven NHL franchises, then the rest of the teams are going to be split into three other groupings that look like this:

Notice anything about that graphic?

There are only 30 teams listed because they forgot to put the Flyers on it. ESPN hates us, but we don’t care!

Just an oversight here, but still funny. ESPN gives maybe one-tenth of a shit about hockey, because they don’t broadcast the sport, but normally a graphic like this has to clear multiple layers before making it to broadcast. The producer orders the graphic, the art department makes it, then the producer and executive producer are both supposed to double check the image before inserting it into the rundown and clearing it for air.


But at the risk of burying the lede, the Flyers are supposed to be in the East division with the seven teams listed. Canadian networks TSN and Sportsnet are reporting that we’re probably gonna have a 56-game season that begins on January 13th. The NHL and players union just need to iron out the final details and then we should be good to go.

We’re going to have.. hockey action yo! That’s what Jose from Norristown would say.