Earlier this morning, the NHL has agreed to shift their national TV package in Canada from TSN to Rogers Sportsnet for the next 12 years effective next season at a cost of $5.2 billion. Hockey Night In Canada will remain on CBC on Saturday nights but will no longer share any revenues with the NHL from the TV broadcasts. Rogers will assume full control of the personnel (including Don Cherry) and the content that will be seen on the broadcasts. TSN is now completely shut out of the whole deal, meaning popular personalities like Bob McKenzie, who reported the deal last night on Twitter, are now on the outside looking in, although it is expected that some might join Sportsnet next year to be part of their new national broadcast crew. It's a little complicated for me to fully explain, to say the least, but for now, you can start with this link:

Full Story (http://www.channelcanada.com/canadian-channels/specialty-channels/sportsnet/rogers-communications-nhl-announce-12-year-national-broadcast-multimedia-agreement)

Like many Canadians, I was blown away when I heard the news this morning and saw the press conference live at 11 am, including NHL commissioner Gary Bettman being his usual smug insufferable self, but I do like watching Sportsnet when they try to cover hockey, especially their Hockey Central At Noon show, and I love watching and hearing Nick Kypreos, their version of McKenzie, so I wish them all the best of luck!

VIDEOS

Press Conference (http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/rogers-nhl-reach-landmark-12-year-deal/)

Sportsnet HockeyCentral reaction and analysis (http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/hc-panel-discusses-nhl-rogers-partnership/)

What the new deal means to fans and what a typical Saturday night may look like in 2014-15 (http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/viewers-have-control-over-nhl-schedule/)

Watching hockey in Canada will never be the same! It's hard to imagine a world without HNIC but that may be the case in 4 years when CBC's deal with Rogers expires.