NHL Tonight is the flagship studio show on NHL Network in both the United States and Canada. It debuted under its current name on December 26, 2011, replacing an earlier program called NHL on the Fly: Final. The show airs nightly through the NHL season, carrying highlights and live look-ins at games still in progress. It has never been simulcast on a major broadcast network.
The program originally ran 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the night’s schedule. It later expanded to a full hour regardless of how many games were played. NHL Network overhauled its daily lineup ahead of the 2024-25 season, adding a new lead-in show, NHL Tonight: First Shift. NHL Tonight now follows that show and NHL Now in the early evening, with On the Fly airing afterward.
The show is currently anchored by a rotating group of hosts, including Tony Luftman, Jamison Coyle, and Erika Wachter Barnes. Analyst EJ Hradek serves as lead analyst, breaking down games and storylines each night. Kathryn Tappen, who hosted the show from 2011 to 2015, returned to NHL Network as a studio host in 2024.
Lauren Gardner hosted NHL Tonight for several years before departing NHL Network in July 2026. Jamie Hersch has also filled in as an occasional host, alongside her regular duties on On the Fly. Analysts featured on the broadcast have included former NHL defenseman Jason Demers and longtime NHL veteran Nate Thompson.
