On July 7, 2021 in Tampa, Florida, Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates in the locker room with the Stanley Cup after the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena to win the best of seven game series 4-1. Getty Images | Scott Audette | National Hockey League The final figures are in, and the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup Final Game 5 on NBC drew 3.6 million viewers in the league’s final season on the network. The Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup again on Wednesday, defeating the Montreal Canadiens 1-0. The NHL’s biggest event, like pro basketball, is running behind schedule owing to the pandemic. However, as compared to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final, which took place in September, viewership increased. This series drew 2.52 million views on average. Throughout the six games of the 2020 series, which featured the Lightning and the Dallas Stars, the series averaged around 2 million viewers. The 2019 Stanley Cup Final, which featured the Boston Bruins – one of the NHL’s “original six” – and the St. Louis Blues, drew an average of 5.3 million viewers over the course of seven games. On NBC’s broadcast network and sports channel, the first four games of the 2021 series averaged 2.23 million total viewers (combined linear, cable, and streaming) (NBCSN). This year, the NHL severed its 16-year partnership with NBC and switched to ESPN and WarnerMedia. As a result of the new deals, the league’s media rights cost has climbed to more than $625 million per year. The upcoming Stanley Cup broadcasts will be split between ESPN and TNT. On July 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida, Pat Maroon #14 of the Tampa Bay Lightning hoists the Stanley Cup after the Lightning won Game Five of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final 1-0 to win the series four games to one against the Montreal Canadiens at Amalie Arena. Getty Images | Florence Labelle | National Hockey League Prior to the conclusion of NBC Sports’ coverage, Lightning left winger Patrick Maroon completed a personal business transaction. After the Lightning won the series, Maroon became the first NHL player to activate a marketing agreement. He suggested Shavelogic during an on-ice interview with NBC, which spurred their contract. Maroon inked a six-figure contract with stock options and an ambassador role with the company, which sells shaving goods. NHL agent Rob Grant of Octagon’s hockey division brokered the deal. In May, Shavelogic secured a contract with the NHL, allowing it to use the league’s intellectual property and have its logo displayed at future Stanley Cup events. Maroon, 33, had 18 points (14 goals and four assists) in 55 games during the NHL regular season. His contract, at $1 million, has one year left on it. According to Spotrac, Maroon has made $15 million in his career. CNBC’s parent corporation, NBCUniversal, is disclosed./n
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