After a historic four-goal performance against the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Auston Matthews has done the unthinkable. He has forced NBCSN to broadcast a game featuring a Canadian franchise.
Originally the Toronto Maple Leafs opening game was suppose to air on the NHL Network here in the United States. However, now that Matthewsmania is running wild, the game is now going to be broadcast on NBCSN.
Apparently scoring four goals in your debut can grab the attention of the head bosses at NBCSN. Matthews will be making his home debut against the Boston Bruins tomorrow night. After the debut he had, they will gladly flex in Matthews over the Sprint Cup Series: Hollywood Casino 400, Final Practice, which is what was scheduled to air in that time slot.
Having the opportunity to expose an American hockey player with so much potential against a fellow original six franchise is a no brainers for the network.
NBCSN gets the best of both worlds with flexing in this Maple Leafs-Bruins game. For one the get to showcase Matthews to the American audience against an American based franchise in the Bruins.
In addition, prior to broadcasting Saturday’s night game, the lone game on the NBC Networks was the Centennial Classic. However, thanks to Matthews they now have two.
If that wasn’t enough, Matthews lead SportCenter. No not SportsCentre, but SportsCenter on ESPN with Scott Van Pelt as he was joined by Barry Melrose and John Buccigross to discuss the historic performance by Matthews. Wednesday might have been a down night in sports, but for a hockey player to lead SportsCenter is still incredible.
Then the next day he was talked about on various shows on ESPN. Shows like His & Her, Around the Horn, and Pardon the Interruption had Matthews as one of the lead stories.
A 19 year-old hockey player from Arizona was not just making headlines in the hockey media world, but the mainstream media as well. Somehow he made people talk about hockey, even people who could care less about the sport.
Heck, he even shows such as Good Morning Football and the Today Show giving him some recognition.
In Matthews, the Maple Leafs have a marketing chip to reach even more people south of the border. Number 34 jerseys will sell on both sides of the border. NBCSN will want to carry more Maple Leaf games to showcase the talented American.
The rich will get richer as the saying goes as they will benefit from this exposure of their budding star.
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Nonetheless, we all just want to see Matthews play. Sure he might not have another four-goal performance, but we want to see how he can follow up that act. Not to mention if he has a tremendous rookie season, there could be a lot more Maple Leafs games flexed into the NBCSN schedule.