NHL Radio is the official national radio broadcaster of the National Hockey League, covering the Stanley Cup Final, both Conference Finals, selected early round playoff action, the All-Star Game, the NHL Winter Classic and a selected number of regular-season games. The package was distributed by Westwood One and premiered in the 1993-94 season. This arrangement lasted through the end of the 2007-08 season until it was relaunched for the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, through the network's NBC Sports Radio service. The contract was continued for the 2016-17 season with a playoff game of the week, both conference finals, the Stanley Cup Final, the Winter Classic and select regular season games being added. The NBC Sports Radio brand was dropped in 2020; Westwood One will syndicate the broadcasts directly. In 2021, Sports USA Radio Network took over the national radio rights to the NHL.

NHL Radio's blackout rules

Within 75 miles of a team's home arena, only stations the team or its flagship station contracts with can carry those games, regardless if the team is home or away. Thus, any competing station that carries national broadcasts cannot air those games.

Unlike Westwood One's NFL coverage and other leagues' radio coverage, there have never been any blackout restrictions on internet streaming of NHL games. Also, during the Stanley Cup Final, there is also no requirement that only the 2 participating teams' flagship stations are allowed to carry coverage, as is the case with the NFL during the Super Bowl and Major League Baseball during the World Series; local network affiliates may continue to carry the local broadcast and are not forced to carry the Sports USA feed.

Commentators

Current

Former

Stanley Cup Finals commentating crews

YearPlay-by-playColor commentator(s)Ice level reporter
2025John AhlersBrian HaywardBilly Jaffe
2024John AhlersBrian BoucherBilly Jaffe
2023John AhlersBrian BoucherBilly Jaffe
2022John AhlersJoe MichelettiBilly Jaffe
2021John AhlersJoe Micheletti
2020Kenny Albert (Games 1–4, 6–7) Sam Rosen (Game 5)Joe Micheletti
2019Kenny AlbertJoe Micheletti (Games 1–4, 6–7) Darren Pang (Game 5)Brian Boucher
2018Kenny AlbertJoe Micheletti (Games 1–4) Jim Fox (Gm 5)Ray Ferraro
2017Kenny AlbertJoe MichelettiRay Ferraro
2016Kenny AlbertJoe MichelettiDarren Eliot
2008Sam RosenBill Clement
2007Sam RosenDarren Pang
2006Sam RosenDarren Eliot
2005Canceled due to 2004–05 NHL lockout.
2004Sam RosenEddie Olczyk
2003Sam RosenEddie Olczyk
2002Sam RosenGary Green and Darren Eliot
2001Sam RosenGary Green
2000Sam RosenGary Green
1999Sam RosenGary Green
1998Sam RosenGary GreenSean Grande
1997Sam RosenGary GreenDoug Brown and Sean Grande
1996Sam RosenGary GreenDoug Brown and Sean Grande
1995Kenny AlbertGary GreenDoug Brown
1994Kenny AlbertSherry RossDoug Brown

See also

External links