If the NHL approves the deal - and that is considered a formality at this point - the contract will be forwarded to ESPN. In April, ESPN opted to not renew its $70 million option to televise NHL games for 2005-06 and 2006-07, but the network retains the right to match the new offer, according to a source. ESPN has carried NHL games in the United States since 1985.
This is the part of the article that caught my eye. Do you think that maybe the NHL was using Comcast to try and leverage a better deal from ESPN? Comcast are involved in the league (Flyers), so they do have a reason to try and make ESPN ante up, without a serious interest in picking up the telecasts.