The NHL announces it will produce and distribute local broadcasts for four teams at the start of the upcoming season. According to the league, the Carolina Hurricanes—Stanley Cup champions—and three other clubs, the Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, and St. Louis Blues, will have their games handled by NHL Productions for local distribution when the season begins in late September. The move centers on centralized league production of local broadcasts rather than teams relying solely on separate regional arrangements. Yahoo Sports links the change to broader issues facing sports teams and leagues, including the decline of traditional regional sports networks. The Independent’s report aligns with the league’s announcement that these four franchises are included in the initiative for the upcoming season’s local game coverage. The Winnipeg Free Press source does not provide additional details in the material provided here. Overall, all outlets indicate the NHL is expanding its role in producing and distributing team-specific local games for these franchises.