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

[Dessloch]

What do you mean highlights? You mean her sounding like an incoherent chipmunk pretty much any time someone scores?

Having a grating voice is a big disadvantage as a pbp commentator.

Haha. With highlights I meant some of her most embarrassing moments like for example when she called called Sidney Crosby for Teddy Blueger multiple times during the same period But I mean, when we have this huge thread dedicated to her, I am suprised there are no audio bits or videos that are typical for her posted.

 

[Panteras]

Her voice just sounds like I’m watching a high school game on YouTube sports live. There’s just something so amateurish about the way she sounds and comments. And you notice it right away as she starts talking.

 

[Sticktape]

I need a highlight package.

 

[pb1300]

She was very bad. I chose to watch Dollface with my girl, and has the game muted on my iPad because it was so bad. I’m all for more women in broadcasting, but not Hextall.

 

[Oddbob]

I’m not really a huge fan of her voice, but she’s no worse than most of the dudes I hear calling games.

Leah Hextall >>>> Jack Edwards and the dogshit that he spews from his talkhole

Jack Edwards is by far my most hated commentator in all of sports, but as far as actual PBP sans his homerism he is way way better than her. His 10 year old boy homerism is what makes him horrendous and insufferable, not his actual calling of games. She is terrible at everything.

 

[Clam Jensen]

Unfortunately she can’t control her voice (but then why go into PBP), but she can control player’s name and how to pronounce them, and she fails miserably at that.

As Eggtimer stated on the previous page, she inexplicably called Tatar, “Novak”, and she called Nate Bastian (pronounced “Bass-chin”), “Baas-chee-on”, like he’s a French revolutionary or something.

 

[JP Mick]

I was willing to give her a chance but after listening for a complete game, I’d prefer someone else.

 

[AdvancedPressure]

I understand that these networks have a mandate to be more diverse and check boxes and what have you, but to what degree does the product have to suffer because of it? I mean, it would be like people demanding to have a young, inexperienced LBGQT auto mechanic because "I don't want another straight old white guy," even though the "old white guy" has 40 years of experience and would likely provide a better quality service. It's asinine to be quite frank. I don't care if they want female broadcasters, but at least hire on merit so the broadcast doesn't suffer and the box checking isn't so absolutely blatant

 

[dahrougem2]

If the NHL truly thinks they're selling the game with her as one of their lead broadcasters, boy do they have some stupid minds making decisions.

It's ok to admit that she's very bad at this. Someone else pointed out she sounds like she's calling a high school game. That is very accurate. She has an amateur-ish vibe about her.

There are legitimately good PxP women out there - Leah Hextall is not one of them.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Shes the worst thing I've ever heard on TV in my life

 

[Kevin27NYI]

I’m not really a huge fan of her voice, but she’s no worse than most of the dudes I hear calling games.

Leah Hextall >>>> Jack Edwards and the dogshit that he spews from his talkhole

You’re absolutely wrong, she’s the worst of all time.

left the game on mute last time

 

[Channelcat]

I like her.

 

[57special]

I understand that these networks have a mandate to be more diverse and check boxes and what have you, but to what degree does the product have to suffer because of it? I mean, it would be like people demanding to have a young, inexperienced LBGQT auto mechanic because "I don't want another straight old white guy," even though the "old white guy" has 40 years of experience and would likely provide a better quality service. It's asinine to be quite frank. I don't care if they want female broadcasters, but at least hire on merit so the broadcast doesn't suffer and the box checking isn't so absolutely blatant

 

[Maliki2]

I watched one of the Habs games with Cassie and Leah....by the end of it I wanted to stock about 50 pins in my eyeballs. That would have been much more enjoyable!!

 

[Emperoreddy]

Leah isn't the worth, but I do wonder if she has a voice for PBP. She is really kind of ASMR.

Bigger issue is she gets a bit biased towards certain teams.

 

[ZenOil]

I want Elizabeth Holmes to broadcast Oilers games. I'm triggered by Jack and Louies hyper masculinity

 

[Suntouchable13]

I swear the Hextall apologists in here must be employed by ESPN or something. I've been watching hockey for close to 20 years and the broadcast quality across the board has never been so bad. It's not just Hextall. There are far too many diversity hires and inexperienced play callers in over their head. Go back to the 2000's or early 2010's and listen to Bob Cole or Jim Hughson call a game, then compare that to Hextall. It's criminal what these woke networks are doing to the game.

Hughson was the worst. I think I'd take Leah over him. At least she doesn't use phrases like " he smeagols his way through" or something like that. So happy he retired.

 

[Air Budd Dwyer]

I said this in a different thread but she makes me want to listen to Doc Emerick again, which says a lot (the guy should be in the broadcasting HOF if he's not already but I always hated his voice lol).

My issue with her is that I prefer someone with a strong, sturdy voice while also being skilled for play by play. Hextall misses both boxes here. Female game callers typically just don't have the oomph in their voices that I prefer and it just takes away from the game for me.

I know, it's 2022 and I'm a misogynist for preferring male announcers for sports broadcasts. Shame on me.

 

[FlightlessBird]

I know, it's 2022 and I'm a misogynist for preferring male announcers for sports broadcasts. Shame on me.

I'm a woman and prefer male broadcasters as well. There are very few women I've heard who have the voice (tone, etc.) for actual play by play calling. Though I don't care for AJ Mleczko much, her voice is one of the good ones (I know she's not pbp). Leah's is by far the worst. Her voice is pleasant in itself, but absolutely NOT for play by play.

 

[therealkoho]

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...

Kevin Bieksa says hold my beer to Kelly Hrudey who in turn hands it off to Curtis Lysyschin

I'll give Leah a break because she's just starting out, the 3 stooges I mentioned above should know better as they played

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

I’m not really a huge fan of her voice, but she’s no worse than most of the dudes I hear calling games.

Leah Hextall >>>> Jack Edwards and the dogshit that he spews from his talkhole

Not true at all.

 

[Giotrapani91]

I said this in a different thread but she makes me want to listen to Doc Emerick again, which says a lot (the guy should be in the broadcasting HOF if he's not already but I always hated his voice lol).

My issue with her is that I prefer someone with a strong, sturdy voice while also being skilled for play by play. Hextall misses both boxes here. Female game callers typically just don't have the oomph in their voices that I prefer and it just takes away from the game for me.

I know, it's 2022 and I'm a misogynist for preferring male announcers for sports broadcasts. Shame on me.

I have to disagree with you id rather listen to Gary Thorne.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Is she still employed? Very disappointing if so.

 

[hockeyisgud]

Is she still employed? Very disappointing if so.

She would have to murder someone to be fired.

Elon please buy Twitter.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

She would have to murder someone to be fired.

Well she kills my ears so there's that