NHL Center Ice Review 2024
We spent the last NHL season testing and researching NHL Center Ice to determine if it’s the best 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 allows you to watch all games conveniently from your TV provider’s interface.
Many major league sports make watching the games you want difficult (or impossible) 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 if you’re an NHL fan who already subscribes to a cable or satellite TV service. But if streaming TV is an option for you, we recommend ESPN+ over NHL Center Ice for out-of-market access.
On top of out-of-market coverage, ESPN+ comes with 50 exclusive NHL matchups this season—you can only watch these games on ESPN+ or Hulu. So unlike in the past, having a cable or satellite TV plan with every national NHL channel, your regional sports network (RSN), and NHL Center Ice would still mean you’ll miss out on some live games unless you sign up for ESPN+ or Hulu.
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. But you’ll still need a separate TV plan for local and national coverage.
Of course, you might not be a fan of streaming or have access to reliable internet. If that’s the case, then NHL Center Ice is the out-of-market package for you.
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 |
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.
Two seasons ago, NHL Center Ice was only $59.99 to compete with ESPN+’s then-cost of $69.99 a year. ESPN+ has since raised its annual price to $119.99 a year, 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 through its wide range of exclusive live sports content.
NHL Center Ice vs. ESPN Plus
| Service | Price | Live games | Exclusive games | NHL Network included | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NHL Center Ice* | $69.99/season | ~40/wk. | 0 | ✔ | View plans |
| ESPN+ | $11.99/mo. or $119.99/yr. | ~40/wk. | ~50 | — |
View plans 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 we outlined above, NHL Center Ice and ESPN+ offer out-of-market NHL games in the U.S. The primary difference between the two is their service type. NHL Center Ice requires a cable or satellite TV provider, while ESPN+ is available as a standalone streaming subscription. However, you can also bundle ESPN+ with Disney+ and Hulu.
Apart from the service type, you’ll still get around 40 out-of-market NHL games each week, no matter if you choose NHL Center Ice or ESPN+. The benefit of having ESPN+ is that it includes over 50 exclusive NHL matchups—meaning you’ll need an ESPN+, Hulu, or Hulu + Live TV subscription to watch those games. That’s one way to alienate traditional TV viewers, as NHL Center Ice subscribers will miss those games completely unless they subscribe to ESPN+.
Sure, NHL Center Ice includes NHL Network. So there’s one benefit it has over ESPN+. But you can find that channel on live TV streaming services like Fubo and Sling TV (though it’s oddly not available on Hulu + Live TV).
NHL Center Ice specs and features
We already covered that NHL Center Ice subscribers get NHL Network during the season for free. But that’s not the only incentive to signing 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 enables you to keep tabs on up to four games simultaneously.
You can even view NHL Center Ice matchups with in-game statistical overlays. Though, some TV providers offer their own variation of this. We particularly like Xfinity’s X1 device because it shows live scores and allows you to navigate between games easily. DIRECTV’s interactive ScoreGuide™ feature provides a similar experience.
Video and audio quality
Can you stream NHL Center Ice?
Unfortunately, you can no longer stream NHL Center Ice through the NHL app. While NHL Center Ice previously included its streaming counterpart NHL.TV at no extra cost, that benefit no longer exists. Now you need a separate ESPN+ subscription to stream out-of-market NHL games.
If you prefer going the streaming route, we highlight our favorite streaming options on our How To Watch NHL Games page. But you’ll ultimately want a live TV streaming plan that can replicate the coverage of a cable or satellite TV provider.
Sling TV is the cheapest way to get complete national NHL coverage. Its Sling Orange plan ($45.99/mo.) will hook you up with ESPN and TNT, and the Sports Extra add-on ($11.00 a month) will get you NHL Network. Combine that with a separate subscription to ESPN+ (totaling $62.99 a month), and you’ll have access to every NHL game this season except for the ones that air on your RSN.
If you want RSN coverage, your best bet is DIRECTV STREAM’s ULTIMATE plan (usually $114.99 a month) because it has the largest selection of RSNs from any live TV streaming service. Though, FanDuel Sports Network ($19.99 a month) is also available for those who live within a FanDuel RSN (formerly Bally Sports) region.
Is NHL Center Ice right for you?
It takes a lot to be the best hockey fan, especially when blackout restrictions make it difficult to watch your favorite team from afar. That’s where NHL Center Ice ($69.99 a season) comes into play—giving you access to over 1,000 out-of-market games during the NHL regular season.
If you’re an existing cable or satellite TV subscriber, NHL Center Ice is the most convenient way to get out-of-market games. It’s just unfortunate that NHL Center Ice doesn’t give you streaming access on the side like MLB EXTRA INNINGS or NBA League Pass.
If streaming is what you want, ESPN+ carries the same out-of-market coverage as NHL Center Ice for $11.99 a month. ESPN+ even has an additional 50+ exclusive NHL games each season—making it a must-have service for those who want complete NHL coverage.
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+. Viewers based in Canada will need a Sportsnet NOW Premium subscription, and anyone outside the U.S. or Canada will need an NHL.TV subscription.
Does NHL Center Ice include all games?
No, NHL Center Ice only includes out-of-market and NHL Network matchups. For every game, you’ll need a TV plan that includes your regional sports network, national NHL channels like ABC, ESPN, TBS, and TNT, and an ESPN+ or Hulu 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 NOW 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 experts spent the last NHL season hands-on testing and researching NHL Center Ice to determine its overall value. We tested its features and capabilities within a rural market and compared its price and accessibility with ESPN+—the only other service with out-of-market NHL games.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
