Hurricanes unveil new TV lineup as streaming stays uncertain

NHL Hurricanes unveil new TV lineup as streaming stays uncertain

By Ben Gale

September 2, 2026 • 3:02 AM EDT

Updated 1 hours ago

Hurricanes unveil new TV lineup as streaming stays uncertain

The Carolina Hurricanes dropped some much-needed info on how fans can catch their games this season, but let me tell you—there’s still plenty up in the air. With just over four weeks until puck drop, the team announced the return of familiar faces to their revamped Hurricanes Hockey Network (HHN), but didn’t deliver final answers on the most important question: how can you actually tune in?

The Canes made it official that Mike Maniscalco, Tripp Tracy, Hanna Yates, and Shane Willis are all coming back to the broadcast booth and rinkside. Honestly, Hurricanes fans couldn’t have asked for a more stable cast. Yates was the only uncertainty, given she had to jump from a previous TV partner to a full-time gig with the team. Now she’s confirmed, and adding a digital host role as well—so expect even more Canes content across social media.

According to Yahoo Sports, VP of Communications Mike Sundheim is set to juggle even more responsibilities, managing all things production, distribution, sales, and marketing for the HHN—still working with the NHL, but now with even more on his plate. The message is clear: the Hurricanes are keeping broadcast operations in-house, but how you’ll find the games is another story entirely.

Here’s where things get fuzzy for fans ready to set their DVRs. The Hurricanes’ release says HHN will be the “exclusive local television home of Carolina Hurricanes hockey,” available “throughout the Hurricanes’ regional broadcast territory via cable and satellite providers and as a direct-to-consumer streaming subscription to be announced at a later date.” That all sounds fine, but here’s the catch: they haven’t named a single cable or satellite partner. So as of right now, nobody knows where to actually find the games outside national TV.

The Hurricanes launch their own HHN network, confirming their on-air talent.
Shane Willis and Hanna Yates return, with Yates now also serving as digital host.
HHN will be the exclusive home of Canes regional broadcasts, replacing past TV partners.
The team promises cable, satellite, and a direct-to-consumer streaming option “to be announced”—but gives no details.
A report hints the Canes might join several NHL teams moving rights to Amazon Prime, but nothing is official.
Dallas Stars already confirmed the jump to Amazon Prime as their primary local TV home.
The NHL’s national TV deal ends in 2028, so more teams could consolidate rights soon.
The Hurricanes’ first broadcast on HHN is set for October 2, leaving a tight window for clarity.

What’s officially announced—and what still isn’t

If you’re trying to plan your hockey nights, I can only say: patience is your best friend for now. As of this release, there’s not a single confirmed agreement with any cable or satellite operator, and nothing final about direct-to-consumer streaming. The team’s own words stress that deals are still in the works. Fans hoping to flip the channel to their usual station may not be so lucky.

Could the Hurricanes end up on Amazon Prime?

This is where things get interesting. Reports say multiple NHL teams are eyeing moves to Amazon Prime Video for local broadcasts. Dallas is already on board, and the Hurricanes—along with Columbus, Minnesota, Anaheim, and St. Louis—are rumored to be in the mix. But so far, the Canes aren’t talking. No agreement has been made public, and the latest official release only mentions cable, satellite, and a streaming service to be named later.

NHL’s bigger broadcast future looms

The confusion goes even deeper with the current NHL TV contract set to expire after the 2027-28 season. Why does that matter? Easy: for the first time, the league could bundle up local rights and offer them to one big company—think Disney or Amazon. With regional sports networks falling apart, the NHL wants as many clubs as possible producing games centrally, making it easier to sell streaming rights in the next round of negotiations.

If you’re a Canes fan in North Carolina, you might get local broadcasts included with a streaming service like Amazon Prime—just like the reported deal for Dallas. But if you’re outside the market, you’ll probably still need a national package or NHL Power Play access, just like before.

So what’s next for fans?

Until the Hurricanes announce exactly which cable, satellite, or streaming partners they’ve secured—if any—the best you can do is wait, check official team channels, and prepare for the possibility that where you watched last year might not be where you’ll watch this one.

The clock’s ticking: October 2, when the Canes host Washington, is the first official HHN broadcast. That gives the team a little more than a month to get their house in order and tell fans how to actually tune in—for the right price. Stay alert, keep your options open, and don’t rule anything out.

More coverage: NHL news coverage, NHL betting hub and NHL picks and predictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Hurricanes Hockey Network is the new, team-operated local broadcast network for the Carolina Hurricanes, covering games not on national TV. It’s taking over local broadcasts from previous partners for the 2026-27 season.

Mike Maniscalco, Tripp Tracy, Shane Willis, and Hanna Yates are all returning as the Hurricanes’ on-air talent for HHN, providing play-by-play, analysis, and digital content throughout the season.

That’s still undecided. The team says HHN will be available by cable, satellite, and a direct-to-consumer streaming subscription, but hasn’t named the providers or streaming platforms yet.

There are reports that the Hurricanes, like several other NHL teams, could end up with games on Amazon Prime Video, but no official deal has been announced or confirmed by the team.

The first planned Hurricanes Hockey Network broadcast is set for October 2, when the Hurricanes host the Washington Capitals. Exact viewing details are still to be announced.

Out-of-region viewers will likely need a national streaming package or NHL Power Play access to watch Canes games if they are not located within the local HHN broadcast territory.

It appears the Hurricanes are still finalizing deals with cable, satellite, and/or streaming partners. Details should be announced before the first HHN broadcast.