In a significant development for hockey fans, Prime Video has announced it will serve as the exclusive local streaming platform for six NHL teams beginning with the 2026-27 season. This partnership was revealed in a joint announcement made by Prime Video and the NHL on Wednesday.
The teams set to benefit from this new agreement include the Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, and St. Louis Blues. Each team will have its games streamed within their respective regional territories, providing fans with easier access to live broadcasts of their favorite teams.
Charlie Neiman, Prime Video's head of sports partnerships, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, "We’re excited to build upon our strong relationship with the NHL and provide fans with more ways to connect with the local teams they love." He emphasized Prime Video's commitment to becoming a primary destination for sports content and enhancing the reach of local NHL games.
David Proper, the NHL's chief media officer, echoed Neiman's sentiments, highlighting the importance of flexibility in meeting fan demand as the sports market evolves. He noted, "Fans want an easy way to find and follow their favorite teams, and this agreement with Prime Video gives Clubs the flexibility to meet that demand." This partnership is expected to create new opportunities for teams to engage with their fanbase while delivering a premium viewing experience.
This agreement comes at a time when several NHL teams were left without local broadcast partners due to the shutdown of Main Street Sports Group, which previously managed broadcasts for multiple teams. Four of the six teams involved in the Prime Video deal — the Hurricanes, Blue Jackets, Wild, and Blues — were among those seeking new local media rights after Main Street ceased operations earlier this year. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman had indicated that the league would not pursue a centralized local streaming hub, unlike the approaches taken by the NBA and MLB.
While MLB and the NBA have moved towards consolidating local broadcast rights to maximize revenue through a single streaming partner, the NHL is allowing its teams to determine the best approach for their local rights. Bettman has suggested that while the NHL will not centralize its local broadcast rights, it is prepared to support teams in producing and distributing their games if needed.
As part of this transition, the Hurricanes, Blue Jackets, Wild, and Blues are set to utilize the NHL’s newly established centralized production arm for their local telecasts starting in the 2026-27 season. Meanwhile, the Stars and Ducks were previously associated with Victory+, a free, ad-supported streaming service that recently dissolved after losing several rights partners.
Prime Video is already home to local broadcasts for the Seattle Kraken and holds various local packages across MLB, NBA, WNBA, and NWSL, along with distribution agreements for regional networks. Additionally, in July, the service secured a 12-year deal with Rogers Communications, granting it exclusive rights to national NHL games on Wednesday nights in Canada.
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