A new contender for worst broadcaster of all time (Leah Hextall)

[Bruce Granville]

Really? How will she fix this, ever? Whenever a team scores, oh boy...

 

[John Mandalorian]

She's atrocious. I don't get how did she get this job over what would be dozens if not 100s of other, better, more qualified candidates (+ former players with real NHL experience).

ESPN is always looking for the next Pam Ward.

 

[Leonardo87]

Not sure what was more annoying last night, play by play calling Gibson, Bernier multiple times, or the homer-ism of Weekes on the broadcast. Intermission shows were very good though.

 

[Dolemite]

Sorry the old Fox Sports North broadcast team from long ago (Wild) own this title for all time. This was a broadcast team that made people dumber in one of the smartest hockey markets in the league. For example, when Sean Hill returned from a 20 game drug suspension the Wild broadcasters likened his abilities to Gretzky and Mario Lemieux for the entire broadcast. Fortunately they got rid of the idiot duo and replaced them with better people.

Wild get defenseman Hill back from suspension

 

[Rob Brown]

Really? How will she fix this, ever? Whenever a team scores, oh boy...

Yeah I don't know how anyone can watch this and think that it's working well.

 

[MuckOG]

Yeah I don't know how anyone can watch this and think that it's working well.

She is terrible.

 

[Rec T]

devils fan here watching vs ducks…..first time hearing her call and ya...

…this is horrible

I tried to watch the game ... and finally had to go find the Ducks' radio feed online with the tv muted. Even with the 'wtf?' factor of the radio being roughly 2 minutes ahead of the tv, it was still a better experience. I have zero problems/issues with women broadcasters, but she ... isn't a good fit where she is.

(it was funny with that two minute delay. I'd be working on the computer & hear that the Ducks scored, look over at the tv to see it, keep watching, keep watching, watching still, ADHD sets in & I get distracted & go back to working on the computer, glance over a little later to see everyone celebrating ... damnit...)

 

[heynowbababooey]

This is nonsense. She makes the games unwatchable. I muted the tv and just had music playing instead. You telling me there weren't any dudes with experience for the job? I swear I'll never complain about Ahlers and Hayward again.

 

[Gliff]

This is nonsense. She makes the games unwatchable. I muted the tv and just had music playing instead. You telling me there weren't any dudes with experience for the job? I swear I'll never complain about Ahlers and Hayward again.

Now that says a lot…

 

[PanthersHockey1]

I thought Gary Thorne expressed interest in calling ESPN games again?

 

[ottomaddox]

I'm all for women empowerment but it has to be off merit and not because she is a woman, which is clearly not what ESPN did with Leah Haxtall because she is a disaster. I can't believe there's no thread on just her yet, that Kings-Stars OT was legit great and she ruined it. Would rather listen to Jack Edwards mispronounce Kulikov's name on a loop clockwork orange style than listen to that. How can you introduce a casual when that's the broadcast they'll be listening to? Also the audio was comically off (this is not her fault). Total peewee production.

Between this and the girl in NHL 22 in the drop in menu who you just cannot shut off, they're losing consumers here lol...

Please tell me why you're all for empowerment?

 

[Devils090]

Muted the game right away when I heard her, she is absolutely dreadful.

 

[Castle8130]

Sorry Ducks fans

 

[Stony Curtis]

There is a benefit, though. If you're multitasking while watching the game, it's like having the most annoying alarm ever go off whenever something exciting happens.

I think we'll eventually get to a place where nobody really cares if the broadcasters are men or women...as long as they're competent. The DRW have Manon Rheaume on their broadcast team. I think she adds something positive, but the DRW are also smart enough to put her in a role where she can succeed. I think that role has room for growth in the future as well.

 

[Bandit]

Really? How will she fix this, ever? Whenever a team scores, oh boy...

The human voice is a lot more dynamic than you think. A vocal coach could help her a lot.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Really? How will she fix this, ever? Whenever a team scores, oh boy...

Other than her apparently not being a man, what exactly is wrong with this call? I'm not hearing it.

People are acting like the pitch of her voice is ridiculously high. It really isn't. I've heard plenty of broadcasters who have a dorky yell when a team scores.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Idk she's not really my thing but I don't get all the hate. HF cares too much about small shit like the play-by-play team.

 

[Mach2]

This was the 3rd time I've heard her PBP. This one was a better, but still a long way to go.

 

[Martin Skoula]

I'm glad that the NHL's nepotism doesn't see gender, doesn't matter how you identify as long as you're related to someone in the old boys club.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Idk she's not really my thing but I don't get all the hate. HF cares too much about small shit like the play-by-play team.

Particularly by women.

Has there been a female announcer that hasn't had a "worst announcer ever" thread at some point? There's a lot of cringey local broadcasts that don't get a peep here.

Like this apparently is not threadworthy?

 

[Channelcat]

The human voice is a lot more dynamic than you think. A vocal coach could help her a lot.

This is the problem for me. Its unpleasant to listen to. Can't do it.

 

[ThePsychicSaw]

The human voice is a lot more dynamic than you think. A vocal coach could help her a lot.

Hahahahah

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Particularly by women.

Has there been a female announcer that hasn't had a "worst announcer ever" thread at some point? There's a lot of cringey local broadcasts that don't get a peep here.

I think there were some Rick Jeanneret threads back in the day. Dave Mishkin probably could've gotten a few "worst voices" threads. Same with Peter Loubardias.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

While she wasn't great, I've definitely heard way worse.... There are a couple clowns calling games in Boston that come to mind

 

[majormajor]

Really? How will she fix this, ever? Whenever a team scores, oh boy...

I just want to go on record as saying that so far, Leah Hextall has been terrible at her job, but it has nothing to do with her voice. Hextall sounds fine in that goal call. Compare it to Steve Cangialosi, or heck, Doc Emrick. She has a much nicer voice to work with.

It is the rest of Hextall's game call that has me hitting the mute button...