NHL Center Ice Review 2025
Our sports experts spent the most recent NHL season testing and researching NHL Center Ice to determine if it remains the premier out-of-market package for hockey fans.
NHL Center Ice is an out-of-market sports package available through cable and satellite TV providers. It includes around 40 NHL games per week during the regular season and NHL Network for around-the-clock hockey coverage.
Since 2021, ESPN+ has been the streaming home of the NHL’s out-of-market matchups in the U.S. But NHL Center Ice still benefits those with cable or satellite service. Plus, NHL Center Ice is $50 cheaper than an annual ESPN+ plan and lets you watch all games conveniently through your TV provider’s interface.
Many major league sports make it difficult (or impossible) to watch the games you want within a single TV plan. The NHL is no exception, but NHL Center Ice is not too shabby for those uninterested in cutting the cord. Keep reading to learn if the service deserves a spot on your TV roster.
Is NHL Center Ice worth it?
NHL Center Ice is a good add-on package for NHL fans who already subscribe to a cable or satellite TV service. But if streaming TV is an option for you, I recommend ESPN+ over NHL Center Ice for out-of-market access.
Now bundled within the new ESPN Select and ESPN Unlimited tiers, ESPN+ also features up to 50 exclusive NHL matchups each season. These games are only available via streaming on ESPN+ or Hulu, so even a “perfect” cable setup with every national NHL channel, your regional sports network (RSN), and NHL Center Ice would still leave you hanging.
If you truly want every live NHL game this season, you’re better off skipping NHL Center Ice and signing up for ESPN+. That way, you’ll get out-of-market access and those exclusive games within a single streaming subscription. Plus, several live TV providers now bundle ESPN Unlimited into select plans at no extra cost. Before you spend a dime, check your current package—you might already have the access you need.
NHL Center Ice deals and promotions
NHL Center Ice doesn’t offer a free trial. But occasionally, the league provides free NHL Center Ice previews through participating TV providers. So keep your eyes peeled for those.
NHL Center Ice plans and prices
| Plan | Price | Live games | Video | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NHL Center Ice | $69.99/season | ~40/wk. | 1080p | View Plans for NHL Center Ice |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Out-of-market games only. Blackout restrictions and other conditions apply. Actual numbers of games varies by market due to blackout rules and other restrictions.
NHL Center Ice costs $69.99 for the entire season. Some TV providers also offer monthly payment plans, typically three months at $23.33 a month or four months at $17.50 a month.
A few seasons ago, NHL Center Ice was only $59.99 to compete with ESPN+’s then $69.99 annual cost. ESPN+ now costs $129.99 via an annual ESPN Select subscription, while NHL Center Ice only went up by ten bucks—maintaining its position as a cheaper option. But it’s important to note that ESPN+ provides greater value with its exclusive NHL matchups and wide range of other live sports content.
NHL Center Ice vs. ESPN+
| Service | Price | Live games | Exclusive games | NHL Network included | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NHL Center Ice* | $69.99/season | ~40/wk. | 0 | ✔ | View Plans for NHL Center Ice |
| ESPN+ (via ESPN Select) | $12.99/mo. | ~40/wk. | ~50 | — |
View Plans for ESPN+ Read ESPN+ review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Out-of-market games only. Blackout restrictions and other conditions apply. Actual numbers of games varies by market due to blackout rules and other restrictions.
As I outlined above, NHL Center Ice and ESPN+ both offer out-of-market NHL games in the U.S. The primary difference is how you access them. NHL Center Ice requires a cable or satellite TV provider, while ESPN+ is available as a standalone streaming subscription via the new ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited plans.
You can still bundle the new ESPN plans with Disney+ and Hulu for a single monthly price. Better yet, you might be able to get ESPN Unlimited at no extra cost through select live TV providers like DIRECTV and Spectrum.
Service types aside, the core offering is identical: Both packages deliver roughly 40 out-of-market games per week. But ESPN+ pulls ahead with its slate of 50 exclusive national matchups. Since these games are streaming-only, NHL Center Ice subscribers are strictly out of luck. You either get ESPN+ access to watch them, or you miss out completely.
NHL Center Ice specs and features
I already mentioned that NHL Center Ice subscribers get NHL Network during the season for free. But that’s not the only incentive to sign up.
Select NHL Center Ice games come equipped with dual feeds—allowing you to choose between the home and away broadcasts. Its multi-screen mosaic feature also lets you keep tabs on up to four games simultaneously.
You can even view NHL Center Ice matchups with in-game statistical overlays. But some TV providers offer their own variation of this. I like Xfinity‘s X1 device because it shows live scores and makes it easy to navigate between games. DIRECTV‘s interactive ScoreGuide feature provides a similar experience.
Video and audio quality
Every game on NHL Center Ice airs in full 1080p HD resolution with basic 2.0 stereo. Unfortunately, the league hasn’t announced any plans to air games in 4K this season. That seems to be an initiative that only MLB is serious about.
Can you stream NHL Center Ice?
Unfortunately, you can no longer stream NHL Center Ice through the NHL app. Unlike MLB EXTRA INNINGS or NBA League Pass, which give subscribers free access to their respective streaming apps, NHL Center Ice is strictly for your TV set-top box. If you want to stream out-of-market games on your phone or tablet, you’ll need a separate ESPN+ subscription (via the new ESPN Select/Unlimited platform).
If you’re looking to cut the cord entirely, I recommend a few specific live TV streaming setups to replicate that cable experience.
- For the budget-conscious: Sling TV is the cheapest route for national coverage. Its Sling Orange plan ($45.99/mo.) gets you ESPN and TNT, and the Sports Extra add-on ($11–$15/mo.) adds NHL Network. Pair that with ESPN Select ($12.99/mo.), and you have almost every game covered.
- For local team access: If you need your regional sports network, DIRECTV’s CHOICE plan is the safest bet, as it carries the widest selection of RSNs. Alternatively, if you live in a FanDuel Sports Network region, you can grab its standalone streaming app for $19.99/mo.
Ultimately, if you’re an existing cable subscriber who loves the convenience of flipping channels on your remote, NHL Center Ice is a solid luxury. But for everyone else, the lack of streaming access makes ESPN+ the clear winner for watching out-of-market hockey.
NHL Center Ice FAQ
How much does it cost for NHL Center Ice?
NHL Center Ice costs $69.99 per season or $23.33 a month for three months. You can also expect an NHL Center Ice mid-season price drop around January, but the reduced price varies each year.
How do I get NHL Center Ice without cable?
To get the out-of-market benefits of NHL Center Ice without cable in the U.S., you'll need a separate subscription to ESPN+ via ESPN Select. Viewers based in Canada will need a Sportsnet+ Premium subscription, and anyone outside the U.S. or Canada will need an NHL.TV subscription.
What’s the difference between NHL Center Ice and NHL TV?
NHL.TV was the out-of-market streaming counterpart to NHL Center Ice in the U.S. But since ESPN+ now streams out-of-market NHL games, NHL.TV is no longer available for U.S.-based subscribers.
Did NHL TV go away?
NHL.TV is still available to most international NHL fans. But U.S. and Canada-based viewers now have ESPN+ and Sportsnet+ Premium to rely on for streaming out-of-market games. It's the latest in a long line of changes to the NHL's streaming plans, including services like NHL GameCenter LIVE and NHL LIVE.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com Sports Editor, Taylor Kujawa, spent the last NHL season hands-on testing and researching NHL Center Ice to determine its overall value. He tested its features and capabilities in a rural market and compared its price and accessibility with ESPN+, the only other service with out-of-market NHL games. This review is the result of that work to see if NHL Center Ice’s quality and reliability truly justify the cost.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
