Sharks share league lead with 12 exclusive national TV broadcasts in 2014-15

Apparently NBC executives didn't get the memo that the Sharks are entering a "rebuilding" phase or that their offseason transactions consisted of re-upping Mike Brown and signing John Scott. No team in the NHL will have more of its games exclusively broadcast on NBC and NBC Sports Network during the 2014-15 season than San Jose, whose 12 exclusive national telecasts are tied with the Bruins, Flyers, Capitals and Kings for the league lead (some teams will appear on NBC and NBCSN more than 12 times but additional appearances will be blacked out in their local market).

Speaking of the Kings, four rematches of Los Angeles and San Jose's epic first-round series will be televised nationally including the season opener on October 8th and a game on February 21st that will almost certainly be played outdoors at either AT&T Park or Levi's Stadium. In all likelihood, the Sharks hosting one of what's probably going to be limited to two outdoor games this season is a significant reason they'll be on national TV more often than ever before, giving viewers ample opportunity to get acquainted with the team prior to the Stadium Series contest. It's also possible the influx of national dates is somehow related to the Sharks' effort to renegotiate their own television deal with Comcast. Here's the full list of Sharks games slated to be televised on NBC or NBCSN:

There are 13 games in all, meaning one of the Sharks' appearances will be blacked out locally and available on CSN California where you'll be treated to the broadcasting duo of Randy and Dr...uh, well Randy and some other guy at any rate.