Stanley Cup Playoffs Viewership Soars Amid Rising Popularity of American Hockey

The Stanley Cup Playoffs have concluded, shifting the focus to this week’s NHL Draft and significant coaching changes and trades. Yet, it’s an opportune moment to celebrate impressive achievements in hockey viewership.

Viewership ratings for this year’s playoffs were released last week, and the results were remarkable. According to Sports Media Watch, the Stanley Cup Playoffs on ABC, ESPN, and TNT Sports averaged 1.8 million viewers. This figure marks a 68% increase over last year and the highest since 1996, which had 1.56 million viewers.

The standout viewership is partly attributed to a strong series of matchups this season. However, a significant factor is the remarkable performance of American hockey teams. Both the U.S. men’s and women’s teams captured gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, with each victory decided in overtime. The men’s triumph was historic, being the program’s first Olympic gold since the 1980 Miracle on Ice. These wins have engaged the nation in ways few hockey events have in recent years.

The Winter Olympics followed the well-received 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in 2025. The growing popularity of international hockey appears to be benefitting the NHL, especially in the United States. American players, including Brady Tkachuk, celebrated their victory over Canada in the men’s ice hockey final at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026. (Photo by Amber Searls/Imagn Images)

This rising interest contributed to making the year’s Stanley Cup Final, featuring the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights, one of the top five most-watched ever. Skeptics initially doubted that teams from North Carolina and Las Vegas could garner significant attention, but the series proved to be a thrilling spectacle.

The NHL aims to sustain this momentum and sees international hockey as a critical component. The recently announced plan for the 2027 All-Star Game on Long Island underscores this intention, further indicating the league’s commitment to broader international involvement.

Matthew Reigle is a writer for OutKick.