Hockey fans' pocket are hurting after latest announcement ahead of NHL season: Is it Gary Bettman's fault?

Connor McDavid and Mike Babcock will draw eyes in Edmonton, but watching every NHL game is becoming a headache before puck drop even arrives.

For fans, the issue isn't the product on the ice. It's figuring out which subscription, network or streaming service carries the game they actually want to watch.

The NHL is heading into another season with broadcasts spread across national packages, regional coverage and streaming platforms. That leaves supporters navigating different services depending on where they live and which team they follow.

And paying for one premium package doesn't always solve the problem. Regional restrictions can still leave viewers searching for another option when their team hits the ice.

That frustration becomes even harder to swallow when fans are already spending heavily just to follow a full season from October through the playoff race.

The basic request from supporters isn't complicated: one place to watch their team every night without wondering whether the broadcast is unavailable in their market.

NHL viewing remains complicated for loyal fans

That's where the pressure keeps building. Hockey already asks fans to follow a packed schedule, back-to-backs and long road trips. Finding the broadcast shouldn't become another part of the nightly routine.

Streaming was supposed to make sports easier to access. Instead, NHL viewers can find themselves bouncing between apps and television packages depending on the matchup.

For a fan following Connor McDavid in Edmonton or Auston Matthews in Toronto, missing a game because of broadcast restrictions can be especially frustrating after already paying for access.

The problem becomes even more noticeable when a big matchup arrives. Fans want to think about line combinations, the power play and the standings, not which service has the rights that night.

There's also a larger issue for the NHL. Making games harder or more expensive to find puts another barrier between the league and supporters who simply want consistent access.

Until the broadcast setup becomes easier, that frustration isn't going anywhere.

The new season will bring fresh rosters, coaching decisions and another playoff chase. For many fans, it will also bring the same question before puck drop: where can I actually watch tonight?