The Athletic Hockey Show Why NHL Frozen Frenzy is broken
18 snips
Oct 29, 2025 
Frankie Corrado, a former NHL defenseman and insightful contributor for The Athletic, dives into the NHL's Frozen Frenzy event, uncovering why it fell short of expectations. He and the hosts discuss the necessity of a Red Zone-style producer to enhance viewer engagement during games. The conversation touches on Connor Bedard's impressive growth and his first hat trick, while also highlighting the surprising start of the Penguins and the impact of recent big contracts on player valuations.
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TV Rental Hack From AHL Days
- Frankie Corrado told a story of buying and returning TVs to effectively 'rent' them during the AHL season.
- He described an efficient roommate routine to rotate returns and rebuys before the return window closed.
Frozen Frenzy Lacks A Real Product
- The Frozen Frenzy felt like a marketing label, not a distinct product, because games simply followed normal staggered starts.
- A dedicated studio 'red zone' feed that quarterbacks live switches would create genuine frenzy and attract casual fans.
Build A Dedicated Red-Zone Style Feed
- Create a dedicated ESPN (or partner) feed that cuts to crucial moments and packages short storylines from each game.
- Use storytelling and player packages to convert casual viewers into fans.
