The NHL's Award-Winning Year Was About More Than Hockey
Written By Gina Anton
For the NHL, the biggest victory of the year didn't come during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
It came Wednesday, when the league was named Sports League of the Year at the Sports Business Awards, recognizing a season that extended far beyond what happened on the ice. From Alex Ovechkin's historic pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record to record television audiences, global expansion, and long-term business growth, the NHL delivered one of the most successful years in league history.
League Chief Operating Officer Stephen McArdle and President of Content and Events Steve Mayer accepted the award in New York, recognizing a year that saw hockey reach new audiences both on and off the ice.
A major factor was the NHL's growing international presence. The league confirmed that its players will return to the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014, reconnecting its biggest stars with one of the sport's largest global stages. That announcement generated worldwide excitement and positioned hockey for another surge in international visibility.
The NHL also continued finding new ways to showcase the game. Florida hosted its first-ever outdoor NHL games, with the Winter Classic in Miami and the Stadium Series in Tampa proving that hockey's biggest events no longer need snow-covered backdrops to attract national attention.
On the ice, the league delivered exactly what fans hoped for.
Competitive balance remained one of the NHL's greatest strengths, with dramatic playoff races, comeback victories, emerging young stars, and milestone moments throughout the season. Few storylines captivated the sports world like Alex Ovechkin surpassing Wayne Gretzky as the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, a historic achievement that transcended hockey and became one of the defining moments in sports.
That excitement translated directly into fan engagement.
Attendance reached record levels while playoff television audiences surged across North America. Through two rounds, the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs averaged 3.3 million viewers across the United States and Canada, the highest combined audience ever at that stage. In the U.S., viewership climbed 63 percent compared to last season, making these the most-watched Stanley Cup Playoffs through two rounds in league history.
The league's business momentum matched its on-ice success.
The NHL enters the future with long-term stability after securing a Collective Bargaining Agreement through 2030 and an $11 billion Canadian media rights agreement with Rogers Communications. Together, those deals provide financial certainty while strengthening the league's foundation for continued growth.
For years, the NHL has often been viewed as North America's fourth major professional sports league. Seasons like this continue to challenge that perception.
The league didn't earn Sports League of the Year because of one milestone or one superstar. It was recognized because nearly every part of the business moved forward at once, its global profile expanded, television audiences grew, commercial partnerships strengthened, and the product on the ice continued to deliver.
The award recognizes more than one exceptional season. It reflects a league that has expanded its global reach, strengthened its business foundation, and positioned itself for continued growth. If this year is any indication, the NHL's momentum is only beginning.
