Sportsnet+ Exclusive NHL Games Leave Fans Furious and Worrying About Blue Jays
- Canadian sports fans face mounting frustration over the cost of watching NHL games on Sportsnet+, with the Toronto Maple Leafs facing 13 exclusive streaming broadcasts this season, the...
- The push to streaming stems from the need to offset an $11-billion US national NHL rights deal as chord-cutting erodes traditional cable revenue.
- A full 23% of the regular-season schedule for the Toronto Maple Leafs will air exclusively on streaming platforms.
Canadian sports fans face mounting frustration over the cost of watching NHL games on Sportsnet+, with the Toronto Maple Leafs facing 13 exclusive streaming broadcasts this season, the Toronto Sun reported. As telecommunications giant Rogers consolidates its grip on national media rights and sports properties, viewers are questioning whether Major League Baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays will be next to see their games locked behind a paid streaming wall.
Why Are Canadian Hockey Fans Facing New Streaming Fees?
The push to streaming stems from the need to offset an $11-billion US national NHL rights deal as chord-cutting erodes traditional cable revenue. Rogers makes Sportsnet+ a staple of its new hockey schedule, a move that provoked immediate public backlash from viewers accustomed to traditional broadcast formats. The telecommunications company markets the service as an add-on costing $12.99 per month for those without existing subscriptions, or bundles it for customers who switch to Rogers Infinity cable services.
How Many Maple Leafs Games Will Air Exclusively on Streaming?
A full 23% of the regular-season schedule for the Toronto Maple Leafs will air exclusively on streaming platforms. This total includes 13 games carried on Sportsnet+ and six matchups sub-licensed to Amazon Prime. The streaming schedule begins for Toronto on Oct. 19, 2026, when Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks visit Scotiabank Arena.
Will the Toronto Blue Jays Follow the NHL onto Paid Streaming?
Rogers has not announced official plans for the Blue Jays ahead of the next baseball season. However, industry observers note that under team president Mark Shapiro, the franchise has consistently found ways to monetize fan interest, selling out 61 games and drawing near-capacity crowds during the recent season despite a last-place finish. The Blue Jays have previously featured prominently on Apple TV’s Friday Night Baseball, logging five appearances in 2026, which established a precedent for platform-exclusive broadcasts.
What Are the Exact Dates for Key Maple Leafs Streaming Broadcasts?
The Maple Leafs face a series of high-profile exclusive streaming dates throughout the regular season. Following the Oct. 19, 2026 home debut against San Jose, Toronto travels to play the Calgary Flames the subsequent week. Later in the schedule, the team visits Washington to face Alex Ovechkin on Jan. 4, 2027, before closing out their Monday streaming slate with a March 22, 2027 game in Montreal and an April 5, 2027 home game against the Boston Bruins.