Worked for Hockey Night in Canada and Montreal Canadiens. Passion is certainly welcome, but it has to be based on solid analysis. Boston fans probably wouldn't want it any other way. Denis Potvin knows a ton about hockey and he wants the audience to know it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcLQRdfK1vo, Hart was the original voice of the Philadelphia Flyers and remained there for 29 years. This year, the scale tipped too far for many viewers. Honored by the Hockey Hall of Fame with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 1987. ", "Oh Nelly! Another thing that frustrates Colorado fans, which was reflected in these results, is how games have been hard to find locally because of carriage disputes involving Altitude, which is also owned by Avalanche (and Denver Nuggets) owner Stan Kroenke. He generally nails what happened during the play without the benefit of a replay and is quite good at explaining what defensemen are doing and should be doing. National television rights in Canada are held by Rogers Media. Josh has also become a great staple alongside him. The puck trickles through Vasilevskiy'slegs and appearsto cross the goal line, but the referee immediately indicates there was no goal. The studio work in terms of pregame, postgame, and intermission content wasnt described as adding much value so thats an area to improve on, but when you crush the meat of the broadcast with strong in-game commentary, thats something that fans can overlook. San Joses broadcast fell from 6th to 10th last year and has now tumbled all the way to 19th. Multiple fans noted that the in-game commentary and banter between whistles has been enough to keep them tuned into games that have otherwise turned out dull. The broadcast: NBC Sports California carries Sharks games, with Randy Hahn on play-by-play, Bret Hedican primarily doing color and Drew Remenda occasionally filling in for color. Neither are afraid to criticize players or coaches. The following is a list of local TV and radio broadcasters for each individual team. The broadcast: Bally Sports Southwests carries Stars broadcasts with Josh Bogorad handling play-by-play and Darryl Reaugh handling color commentary. Since 1980, Maher has been the voice to the Calgary Flames. Most fans rated Hrudey as a quality color partner for Ball too, noting that the two have developed nice chemistry. Honored by the Hockey Hall of Fame with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 2000. National fans tend to view it as the second Avalanche fan we quoted above too zany and unkempt, and trying too hard to be over the top. His voice is twice as unique as his name, and if that was a good thing, we wouldn't be talking about him right now. This aging CBC commentator misses calls, botches names, noticeably favours Toronto if they're playing, and has the absolute farthest thing from a broadcasting voice. Im probably one of many Canes fans to say this exact thing but losing John Forslund instantly turned Carolina from one of the best to one of the worst broadcasts, said one Carolina fan. He is also known for his exuberant play-calling, often showing just as much excitement when the opposing team scores. He gets a bit amped up at certain points and speaks more so as a fan than a commentator, wrote another Pens fan. Currently with the Buffalo Sabres, Neal has worked Hockey Night in Canada as well. I feel like the addition of Steve Mears in the last few years has been good, but the broadcast is still on the homer side (even for a local broadcast) and theyre pretty slow to include any metrics Ive seen from other local broadcasts (shots, TOI), said one Penguins fan. But being a great player doesn't make a man a great analyst and Potvin misses many of the little things that the really good analysts are able to pick up on the fly and explain. Hes a flat-out legend. Olczyk obviously knows the game, but has an annoying habit of explaining on-ice technique by beginning with "Now for all of you young players out there", rather than just explaining the proper play or technique. The behavior isn't limited to just blowouts either. Dan Kelly? Hawk Harrelson definitely is a White Sox homer. But hes always engaged and keeping things exciting, and especially compared to the crusty old-timers you get in other markets, hes a refreshing listen. This announcer is a huge Red Sox homer, especially after his return to the box in 2009. It seems in almost any conversation hes having, whether it involves the Bengals directly or not, he manages to bring up the Bengals or his career with them. Bruins announcer Jack Edwards criticized again for bizarre commentary, See where Bruins, Lightning fall in our latest NHL Power Rankings, certainly not the first time Edwards has been in hot water. His days on the penalty kill paid off as he, along with Andy Brickley, is among the very best at explaining special teams and individual breakdowns as they occur. The 4 ways this Aaron Rodgers mess can end, The 8 NBA teams that can win the championship this season. Michaels boisterous, energetic style definitely isnt everybodys cup of tea some find his commentary style over the top but he has far more supporters than detractors. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTJw2lYgXOA. Honored by the Hockey Hall of Fame with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 1989. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKW5YMylj3I, Has been a popular analyst on Hockey Night in Canada , ESPN and NHL. A great hockey announcer, Gene Hart definitely favored the Flyers though. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. The bottom line: Michaels passionate play-by-play calling is a hit and fans like his chemistry with DeBrusk but the broadcast lacks informative, modern analysis. Ralph Strangis, Daryl Reaugh - Dallas Stars: Strangis and Reaugh are the Abbott and Costello of NHL commentators, and I mean that in a good way. His "gunnerisms" were always used in reference to the Pirates and really showed his love of the team. Any team his son Luke Walton plays for, which right now is the Lakers, can do no wrong in this mans eyes. I believe that she does a decent job when she is an analyst between periods on Hockey Night in Canada, responded a Flames fan. Kevin Quinn - Edmonton Oilers Kevin Quinn may be good at calling the action and properly informing viewers about what's going on, but it appears the Oilers can do no wrong. He was the original voice of both the Los Angeles Kings and Atlanta Flames. Eliot has been picked up by Versus for a couple of national games and rightfully so. Rimer is an old-time announcer, an older gentlemanly type who is both a fan and an objective observer watching the team play. Brendan Burke calls the game extremely well, said an Isles fan. Cooke had ended the career of the Bruins' Marc Savard with a hard hit several years earlier. When they're not, it's because they're both screaming at their audience. Dan Terhaar, Mike Greenlay - Minnesota Wild: I've actually been embarrassed for Terhaar at times because of his botched pronounciations of player names. Earle called games for the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins. Some of it may be ownership imposed, but the Sharks broadcast is painfully biased to the point where I willingly watch the other teams broadcast frequently, said a Sharks fan. His bias seems to shift to whichever team Lionel Messi is playing for. Ja Morants allegations of aggression off the court, explained. However, the reason that he is here is a good one. Hes a staple in Red Sox baseball, especially for the Red Sox radio show. In fact, many Dallas fans make sure to note they hope they never lose Reaugh to a national gig. The other night is a good example. Here is a list of 25 of the biggest "homer" announcers in sports history. I'm not trying to hate on one of the best, but that is pretty annoying. Boston Bruins announcer from 1964-1994. Finally, in a 2013 game between Boston and Pittsburgh, he compared the Penguins' Matt Cooke to Sirhan Sirhan, the man who shot and killed Robert Kennedy. He always sees the positive in the team, no matter how dire the circumstances. He's dead-on while working in-game, he identifies players, the action and works in line changes and team tidbits on the fly. He's the announcer who accused Brent Seabrook of "selling it" to draw a call on this hit. The bottom line: The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions have a local broadcast that succeeds in matching the level of the play on the ice. During the playoffs, games are split between CBC and the Sportsnet channels, though some games aired on CBC may also be simulcast on Sportsnet. The results: Flames broadcasts have consistently ranked in the bottom third of the league without falling all the way to the basement theyve ranked between 22nd and 25th in three consecutive years. ", http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsXYB0qYyvM. Haynes picks up on these cues and not only agrees but extends the point. The survey collected feedback from both local . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_S-00EH8fo&feature=related. The broadcast: NBC Sports Washington carries Capitals games, with Joe Beninati handling play-by-play and Craig Laughlin handling color commentary. 25: Bill Walton 1 of 25 This announcer has less of a "homer" bias than a family bias. Sebastian Aho (25G, 27A) and Martin Necas (23G, 29A) lead the Hurricanes in points with . We also heard the call for having that included in future rankings. Sportsnets Oilers broadcast leaped 10 spots last year, which was the second-largest year-over-year improvement across the league. Eeegads, how he still has a job is way beyond me. He has no fear of taking a Predator to task for poor play or a mistake. Either way, the Canadiens are represented well no matter the language. One Western Conference fan rated Vegas broadcast a 1 for the sole reason that they disliked Golden Knights fans. But that said, employees of teams and television networks who are rightsholders for a league generally aren't in the business of gratuitous slams of the opposition like that. rarely pay attention to the action on the ice, Jack Edwards is an unabashed homer and taints the entire broadcast with it, Doc's impressive, sometimes non-sensical vocabulary, his excitable nature and his strained voice. He will typically freak out about fouls not called against the other team and talk up the Kings, even when theyre not playing so hot. After stepping away from from the booth, @CangyManMSG shares an open letter. You can hear the excitement in his voice here as he talks about the Red Sox winning in 2007. Tampa's Nikita Kucheroveven gets a decent breakaway chance before being cut off by Chara at the other end. You mean - Judas Priest I cant even remember his name now - the guy before Foley's return isnt working in the NHL right now? I get the feeling he's still trying to establish his credentials and legitimize himself, thus the reference to his fighting days. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0P3ju6YZlw&playnext=1&list=PLBB06D88388A211EF&index=47. When will this guy retire?? While I look at the daunting squiggly red lining under the Leafs' Broadcaster's catchphrase, I will attempt to write a description of him..hmmm. The Florida Panthers, Chicago Blackhawks, and Vegas Golden Knights have all added Spanish language broadcasts to serve their Hispanic fan bases. Shelley is a bright spot in the color position, drawing rave reviews for the work he does when hes between the benches, but that alone cant save this broadcast. Federko's contributions to the team are exactly the same as Denis Potvin above. His cadence is very similar to Detroit Tigers' great Ernie Harwell -- smooth and flowing. He slammed the team and its players on several occasions in the first period, even saying Rasmus Ristolainen leads the league in frustration., He even dared to say that his Bruins were taken on "the NHL version of a dumpster fire, the Buffalo Sabres. The Penguins . He not only misses names, but he forgets them too. Kelly calls the game with a very fast cadence which is outstanding for close and exciting games, but is tough to listen to during yawners. Errey has the same taint to his analysis, often allowing Steigerwald to build the (faulty) narrative and allowing it to continue into his explanation of the play. In fact, I listened to him explain forward positioning on the penalty kill one evening and came away extremely impressed, but far too often his analysis begins with "Oooohhh" and he launches into 30 seconds of old-time hockey, or a story about his fighting days. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pHp0lFupTI. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKD0x10bcrA. Jeanneret has been the voice of the Buffalo Sabres since 1971. Honored by the Hockey Hall of Fame with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 1986. Any team his son Luke. Odds & lines subject to change. John Forslund is exceptional and has made Kraken games a joy to watch, which is saying a lot given how bad the team has been, said one Seattle fan. Whichever language you prefer, the Canadiens broadcast performs well locally and nationally, according to our respondents. The bottom line: As surprising as it was that the Bruins didnt finish last, itll be interesting to see what happens next season we do this exercise again. FX Canada was originally also used to show games (usually simulcasts of all-American matchups), but has not carried regular season or playoff broadcasts since the first year of the Rogers contract. Generally pretty fun, but they have such an old school hockey mindset that gets really annoying, one Coyotes fan wrote. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4a0pWTbgac. What holds this broadcast back from the top of the league are numerous complaints about a lack of compelling analysis in both the color commentary and intermission panels, which lean too often on platitudes and old-school hockey cliches. Some commentators will go home after a game with laryngitis. Mason has no issue waving the flag for the Predators, which many respondents pointed to when filling out their rating. Every shot is a miracle, and anything Messis team does is the best play in soccer hes ever seen. As far as Foley goes, many in Chicago were sad to see him go and were nostalgic about his career calling games in Chicago. He was one of the first former players to enter the broadcasting field. He will be missed.. The longtime duo of Beninati and Laughlin have mastered the art of providing an intimate, hyper-local experience without being too biased. Up until the lockout, he was acceptable, but the 2005-06 season brought problems to his broadcasting style, and he has never been the same. He has also voiced several video games. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. I've been switching between broadcasts for the Rangers-Capitals series, and listening to Joe Beninati complain about the reffing was unbearable Honored by the Hockey Hall of Fame with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 1991. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec_BVTvMX-0. The local ratings are still very strong, but Vegas broadcast fell from being ranked third in the league by out-of-market fans all the way down to 19th. Previously he has worked with CBS, ABC, TNT, ESPN, FOX and the Philadelphia Flyers. CBC Television, the previous over-the-air television broadcaster of the NHL, continues to participate in coverage to an extent: Rogers reached a deal with CBC to license the Hockey Night in Canada brand and maintain the network's traditional Saturday night games. The only time these two get off track is when they recall the olden days. The bottom line: NBCs Flyers broadcast is still rated quite well locally. He describes the action more than calls the action and has a very. Id put both of them near the top of the NHL at their respective positions, wrote one Flames fan. The Nashville Predators (28-22-6) will visit the Arizona Coyotes (20-29-9) for a Central Division matchup Sunday at Mullett Arena. Sportsnet previously aired a national NHL telecast on Sunday (20142020) and Monday nights (20212022) under the Hometown Hockey brand. Very good play-by-play by LaPanta. LaPanta took some body shots from Wild fans in the past but seems to have turned a corner with the fan base embracing his call a bit more. 2023 Attraction Web S.E.C. The broadcast: Altitude carries Avalanche games with Marc Moser on play-by-play and Peter McNab on color. Edwards is an attention-grabbing play-by-play voice who sprinkles in his opinions more than most in his role. The bottom line: The long-tenured commentary duo remains popular across the league and is bolstered by excellent intermission analysis. Every minor infraction against a teal skater is an egregious missed call per Bret Hedican. The results: Carolinas broadcast was once the gold standard, ranking No.1 in the league two years ago. The broadcast: Sportsnet carries Flames games, with Rick Ball on play-by-play and Kelly Hrudey and Cassie Campbell-Pascall rotating on color. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEfbyrKnKc0. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGoGEjvvWrQ. He's a Hall of Fame player, one of the greatest defenseman in NHL history. Leafs fans, in general, seemed to prefer the TSN broadcast, noting the Sportsnet broadcast felt too national at times and TSN at least gave a more local feel to the broadcast. The bottom line: For a struggling team on the ice, the broadcast isnt doing it any favors to bring in new viewers. I will point out, however, that things like "net front presence", "head man pass" when being used to describe any breakout pass, "compete level" and "grit" have to go. Here's an example of a goal called by a regular commentator, "He shoots! To serve their Hispanic fan bases they recall the olden days: NBCs broadcast... 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