NHL would be committing suicide taking deal with ESPN an organization that has spent 15 years pretending hockey didn't exist (They dont even show hockey highlights)
NHL games will get bumped to ESPN32 and they will cut away NHL playoff games to cover NBA pregame 2-3 hours before games begin
Also ESPN is still cutting costs whenever they can so you would likely end up with people doing hockey coverage who either hate sport or dont know a thing about it
NBC has been great to NHL
If ESPN gives NHL a great offer, they are going to take it, it’s been Bettman’s MO as a commissioner. I think this article makes it clear, NBC is not getting a exclusive deal this time around. They will have to split with ESPN or FOX or they may use to both altogether.