How to Watch the NHL in Canada in 2026-27: Sportsnet+, Prime Video, TSN and Cable Compared

Watching the NHL in Canada in 2026-27 costs least when you match the nights you actually watch to the service that carries them, and pay for only those services. Under Rogers' national rights, Sportsnet carries Saturday Night Hockey and most national games, Monday Night Hockey is exclusive to Sportsnet+, and Wednesday Night Hockey is exclusive to Amazon Prime Video, which is included with a Prime membership. Regional games for some Canadian teams are on TSN or Sportsnet's regional channels. As of 1 Oct 2026, Sportsnet+ Standard is $34.99 a month or $269.99 a year, Prime is $9.99 a month or $99 a year, and TSN's streaming plans start at $24.99 a month.

Who carries what in 2026-27

The 2026-27 season is the first under Rogers' new national NHL agreement, and the map of who carries which games changed. Sportsnet said in September 2026 that it would broadcast more than 550 games, 35% more national broadcasts than the year before, and lift 150 regional blackouts. Prime Video holds Wednesday nights and some playoff series.

What each option costs as of 1 Oct 2026

Rogers, Rogers West and Shaw Direct customers who already have Sportsnet in their TV package receive Monday Night Hockey without paying the add-on, according to Sportsnet+ support. Customers of other TV providers who get Sportsnet need the $12.99 add-on for Monday nights.

Start with your team and your nights

Most fans watch one team. Write down where that team's games air: how many are national Saturday games, how many are on Mondays or Wednesdays, and which channel carries its regional games where you live. A Maple Leafs fan in Toronto and a Canucks fan in Vancouver will need different services. The Sportsnet+ NHL Game Finder lists where each game airs.

1. List the nights you usually watch: Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, or your team's regional games.
2. Match each night to its service using the table above.
3. Remove services that carry only nights you skip.
4. Price what is left, monthly and annually, before tax.

Monthly versus annual: the arithmetic

The NHL regular season runs from late September to mid-April, about seven months, with the playoffs running into June. An annual plan covers the off-season too. For a fan who watches only the regular season and cancels in the summer, monthly billing can cost less.

For Sportsnet+ Standard, seven months at $34.99 is $244.93, less than the $269.99 annual price. If you also watch the playoffs through June, nine months is $314.91 and the annual plan wins. Prime is usually kept for shipping and other video, so compare it with your existing use, not hockey alone. The guide to auditing subscriptions explains how to set reminders so a monthly plan does not keep billing in July.

Combinations that cover most fans

Cable, streaming or both

If you already pay for a TV package that includes Sportsnet and TSN, adding streaming services may duplicate what you have. Many TV packages include streaming logins for Sportsnet+ and TSN at no extra charge. Before cancelling a TV package for streaming, add up the streaming services you would need and compare that total with the package, including any bundle discount on internet. The Ignite TV versus a streaming stack guide covers that comparison.

Free and low-cost ways to watch

• Watch with friends: one subscription, one screen, shared snacks.
• Bars and restaurants show national games; the cost is food and drink, so set a cap.
• Pause a service in months when your team is not playing on its nights, such as after elimination.
• Use the radio. Many teams' games are broadcast on local radio and streamed through the station's app at no cost.
• Watch your local junior or AHL team in person, which can cost less than a month of streaming.

Common mistakes

• Subscribing to every service when your team's games are on one or two.
• Buying an annual plan and watching only until your team is eliminated.
• Paying the $12.99 Monday add-on when your Rogers, Rogers West or Shaw Direct package already includes it.
• Forgetting that Wednesday games are not on Sportsnet at all.
• Letting a monthly plan renew through the summer.

If you prefer going to a game, the cost of an in-person NHL game is covered in its own guide. For other winter sport costs, see minor hockey costs and Epic vs Ikon ski passes.