Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1414280
31 OCTOBER 2021 NHL Preview The NHL returns to ESPN after a 17-year hiatus. AUSTON MATTHEWS TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (HAS 199) CRAIG ANDERSON BUFFALO SABRES (HAS 291) OLD FACES IN NEW PLACES 300 WINS 200 GOALS RYAN SUTER – Signed a four year, $14.6 million free agent deal with the Dallas Stars CAM ATKINSON – Traded by the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Philadelphia Flyers SETH JONES – Traded by the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Chicago Blackhawks ALEX NEDELKJOVIC – Traded by the Carolina Hurricanes to the Detroit Red Wings BLAKE COLEMAN – Signed six- year, $29.4 million free agent deal with the Calgary Flames WILL BUTCHER, VINNIE HINOSTROZA, CRAIG ANDERSON – All sign with the Buffalo Sabres TYLER JOHNSON – Traded by the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Chicago Blackhawks NICK FOLIGNO – Signed two-year, $7.6 million free agent deal with the Boston Bruins BRANDON SAAD – Signed five year, $22.5 million free agent deal with the St. Louis Blues WILL BORGEN – Selected by the Seattle Kraken in expansion draft C A M AT K I N S O N B L A K E C O L E M A N B R A N D O N S A A D N I C K F O L I G N O Between free agency, semi-blockbuster trades and the expansion draft, this offseason saw a number of established American stars changing addresses. G R A N AT O R E A D Y T O M A K E H I S M A R K I N B U F FA L O The weight and the interim tag has been lifted off of Don Granato's shoulders. Now comes the hard part as the Downers Grove, Ill., native looks to lift the Buffalo Sabres out of the East Division cellar and snap a 10-year playoff drought. This marks Granato's first kick at the NHL head coaching can as he becomes the 20th bench boss in Sabres history. He did spend five seasons as a head coach with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. Despite the team's recent struggles and the uncertainty surrounding the future of superstar player Jack Eichel, Granato is excited to have his first head coaching opportunity at the NHL level. "This is the position I wanted to be in," said Granato, who took over for Ralph Krueger on March 17. W E L C O M E B A C K T O T H E W O R L D W I D E L E A D E R The NHL is returning to ESPN after a 17-year hiatus. The seven- year deal kicks off with 25 regular-season games on ESPN or ABC, early-round playoff series and one conference final each year, four Stanley Cup Final series on ABC. There will also be more than 1,000 games per season streaming on ESPN+. Turner Sports has also reached a seven-year deal worth $225 million per season. ESPN+ and Hulu will be home to 75 ESPN-produced exclusive telecasts per season. ESPN+ currently has more than 12 million subscribers and Hulu has 39.4 million. "Not only will this groundbreaking, seven-year deal enable the NHL to benefit from the incomparable power, reach and influence of The Walt Disney Company and ABC/ESPN, it sets a new standard in delivering our game to the most passionate and tech-savvy fans in sports in the ways they now demand and on the platforms they use," said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.