Lights, Camera, Action: The Most Creative NHL Schedule Drops of the Season
- Mayline Ruiz
- Jul 28
- 4 min read
San Jose, CA. — While we’re anxiously waiting for the NHL season to start, we’re clinging to each piece of hockey news we can get. Lucky for us, some teams released their schedules for this upcoming season, and let’s just say they didn’t disappoint. Many NFL fans look forward to these drops for their creativity, and with the NHL teams following suit, it’s only fair we share some appreciation for the most creative NHL schedule releases.
In no particular order…
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs incorporated a touching sentiment to their schedule release by collaborating with the Save Our Scruff program. They’re a nonprofit organization located in Toronto and Southern Ontario, and the dogs in the video are currently available for adoption. They also used names from Maple Leaf players to play into the hockey theme. There were names such as Charlie Tavares and Felix Matthews to represent John Tavares and Auston Matthews. Not to mention, who doesn’t love seeing dogs in cute costumes? Overall, the schedule drop was simple yet effective, paying a touching sentiment to a local shelter.
San Jose Sharks
When it came to releases, I thought this one was creative due to the props they were using. They used Sharks-themed gear to promote certain events for this upcoming season. It gave off a retro look and almost had a vintage feeling that made it nostalgic to viewers. In one of the first events, they took out a Sharks-themed wallet with a Joe Thornton ID. On the back of the ID, they included the date for opening night. Thornton is deeply loved in the Sharks community, and it could also represent how he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Throughout the video, they use a lot of wordplay, such as "First Responders Appreciation Night" with their mascot, Sharkie, bandaged up. The schedule drop was a creative way to incorporate theme nights and generate buzz to get more people to the games.
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres' schedule release video did a phenomenal job of using creativity while incorporating a famous Sabres player, Rob Ray. Ray played 14 years with the Sabres and is currently a broadcaster for the team. His play on words describing the teams the Sabres will be facing was funny, and it was an interactive way for fans to guess who they’re playing. Starting with one of the first few wings he tried, he mentions how it’s gritty, which we can assume he’s talking about the Philadelphia Flyers mascot, Gritty. The video was unique, and I thought it did a great job of keeping fans on their toes.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins did a good job of incorporating fans into the video and the schedule drop. The Bruins are known for having a great social media team and keeping up to date with the most recent trends. I thought it was a cool idea to include key players from the Bruins, such as Pavel Zacha, Mason Lohrei, and Jeremy Swayman. Not to mention, who doesn’t love free stuff? Collectively, I found the schedule release to be successful as they incorporated their social media usage and included their fans by thanking them with tickets.
Seattle Kraken
The Seattle Kraken used a variety of trends to announce their schedule, and it had an effective storytelling method. The Kraken were one of the few teams that used their mascot, Buoy, to tell a story. One of my favorite parts of the video was when they used The Bear as an inspiration to announce the teams that they're facing, such as the cheesesteak, which is a reference to the Philadelphia Flyers. They then use an older trend where non-hockey fans try to guess the names of hockey teams. While it is an older trend, it’s still funny seeing people guess the teams, such as ‘The Wheel of Texas,’ which is really the Detroit Red Wings. They even find a way to incorporate their sponsors by using release dates on flights, such as when they play in Los Angeles. One of the last comical bits they used was Buoy’s rivalry with Paul Bissonnette, known as Biz. In the end, they even included the full schedule in what resembles an end credit scene. Overall, this video was funny and engaged viewers.
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators had a lengthy video; however, it had many hidden gems that incorporated a lot of humor. A clip that shows how they were poking fun at teams was when they announced the Dallas Stars. They have a group of Stars fans coming to a bar, and they’re being told that they can come inside the bar, but they better not get loud when the Stars fall. This is a reference to the Stars' elimination from the Western Conference Final. Another one is when they announce their match against the Utah Mammoth, and the guy wearing the Mammoth gear mentions how he’s new and will have a dirty soda, which is a staple in Utah. While it is a fairly long video compared to the other ones, it’s fun, and it’s exactly what hockey fans are looking for.
New Jersey Devils
While the schedule drop is short, it’s effective and plays into what the Devils are, but most importantly, the mascot, NJ Devil. The mascot is getting bullied and being told he can’t play with the rest of the kids; in this case, the teams. One of the boys wearing a New York Rangers shirt begins to throw a dodgeball at NJ Devil, but he catches it. Instead, he starts to attack all of the other kids wearing the shirts of different teams. As they get hit, the camera stops and includes all of the dates they’ll be facing those teams. NJ Devil only spares one person, which is the baby who looks adorable, and she’s wearing a New Jersey Devils shirt. I thought that it was a funny and creative concept.
Overall, these schedule drops were amazing, and hopefully, more teams will continue in trends like this. Not only is it fun for fans, but it brings more eyes to the franchise. The teams are making these announcements much more exciting. What do you think? Do you think there should be more schedule drops from other teams? Let me know what you think!
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