"Flexible scheduling will always allow us to have the best possible games," said Ebersol. "Nothing could be better for hockey fans, who now will be able to see the best teams and marquee players on national broadcast television each week."
Bettman said: "In under two seasons, NBC Sports has significantly elevated NHL broadcast coverage in the U.S. We're delighted to have extended our partnership and look forward to next season's scheduling innovation, aimed at delivering the best possible action to hockey fans."
FLEX SCHEDULING
The NHL will offer flexible scheduling for NBC's nine regular season dates.
NBC will be able to select from a minimum of three games scheduled on Sunday afternoons. Thirteen days prior to the scheduled games, NBC, in conjunction with the NHL, will select one of those games as the "Game of the Week" to be broadcast during the NBC window. The other two games will revert back to the team's regional carrier (not to be televised during NBC's broadcast window).