Why NHLers relish a chance to be part of The Price Is Right tradition

An NHL-themed episode will air in October

Published Jun 24, 2026  •  Last updated 6 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

From left, NHL players Matthew Schaefer, Tom Wilson, Jake Walman, and Brandon Montour appear on the set of The Price Is Right Tonight on June 24, 2026. Photo by Lance Hornby /Toronto Sun

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Matthew Schaefer didn’t mean to make us feel old.

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But as a guest on The Price Is Right Tonight, he couldn’t help showing his young age.

“My dad watched it, and my grandparents definitely did,” said the teenaged Calder Trophy winning defenceman, who plays for the New York Islanders. “Any time you bring the show up with someone, it’s: ‘Oh my God, no way.’ My dad said to me: ‘You sure they don’t want me on there?’ ”

Schaefer joined Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals, Brandon Montour of the Seattle Kraken, Jake Walman of the Edmonton Oilers and Wendel Clark, a retired former Maple Leafs captain, on set Wednesday in Toronto. The NHL-flavoured segment with the players helping studio audience contestants guess the price of everyday items for a shot at big prizes will air on Rogers-owned CITY-TV in October as part of the game show’s second Canadian season, dovetailing with the league’s schedule-opening games.

Audience members for Wednesday’s show dispensed with traditional loud T shirts for NHL sweaters.

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Schaefer said the daytime version of the show often serves as game-day entertainment for players.

Clark said now that the Canadian evening version, hosted by Howie Mandel, has taken off, he can go into any house in any hour and hear the music heralding an episode.

“It’s always there — and I don’t remember putting that channel on,” Clark laughed. “I loved the golf putting (with long-time U.S. host) Bob Barker, because he was so into it and the head-to-head, who won the showcase.

“But I’m thinking 1980s and ‘90s costs, so I’d be off on guessing pricing.”

Wilson said The Price Is Right was his go-to when home sick from school in Toronto.

“It was before I-pads, YouTube,” Wilson said. “The Price Is Right is what I had going on. I just like to hang in to the very end and see the new car and the trips they won. It was pretty exciting.

“Hopefuilly. people like the hockey theme.”

As for favourite games, the NHLers all seemed to love Plinko, but only Montour was getting to play it with a partner. He was teased whether analytics would factor in the location of his chip placement to start.

“I might have to look at old clips, see where the plinks have been dropping.” he agreed.

Schaefer was to assist with the ‘Let it Roll’ dice game.

“You get the hang of it the more you watch,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s a fun show. I’m 18 years old and hopefully I can help people win prizes.

“It can definitely help people out financially. And you see Howie as you’re growing up, how funny he is, and what a great person.”

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