Just by moving the dates from their current number of games on ESPN I think you could fill those friday nights so I'm hoping that's the move after the CFB seson is done. Bowl season has different times not a problem.
Yup, that's what I was trying to say in my "edit." The amount of NHL games on ESPN currently fits perfectly into the amount of Friday windows available. And yes, CFB season, not Bowl season. I believe you saw this but so everyone else has an idea:
NBA had these Fridays on ESPN this past regular season (the slots we're talking about):
Oct x1
Nov x4
Dec x4
Jan x3 (NHL had a Friday game on ESPN here, so x4 if NHL)
Feb x1
Mar x2
Obviously would need to add April, if not Friday can use the same April slots they already have. But essentially a majority of the season could be NHL on ESPN Friday nights. The league should already/immediately be talking to ESPN asking to be moved into those slots as the NBA Friday replacement and their current slots can goto things like MACtion and college basketball, etc..