Best play by play teams?

Crow

Registered User
May 19, 2014
4,515
3,365
I absolutely hate the caps team and find them annoying. Surprised to see them mentioned here so often. Worst goal call of all time.

The hawks have gone from the absolute worst to one of the best.
 

Melkor

Registered User
Jul 22, 2012
5,283
2,488
Auckland, New Zealand
This might be an unpopular opinion or bias showing but I think hockey has some of the better broadcast teams compared to other sports. There are only a handful of local broadcast teams that I really can’t stand. ESPN also has some ass crews, unfortunately.

Really going to miss Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti calling Rangers games. Sam is a legend and I can’t explain why but there’s something comforting listening to him call a game.
Agree on Rosen and I'm kind of out of touch with the Canes these days but John Forslund had also been fantastic back in the day
 
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TheBeerNerd

Registered User
Nov 13, 2024
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34
NY side of the Hudson River
I have no complaints with Bill Spaulding, Ken Daneyko, and Bryce Salvador. I wish Bryce and Dano switched roles, but I love their takes.
I want Chico back in the TV booth. Dano is a real "for the fans" choice, so I can't hate him, but for outside viewers I understand why they might not like him. That, or they like him because he sounds like Jesse Ventura.
 

Tawnos

A guy with a bass
Sep 10, 2004
29,334
11,128
Charlotte, NC
Man, the color guys around the league must be especially bad if Micheletti is getting all this praise in here. He's fine, but doesn't have much of a personality and doesn't provide much in the way of deep insights. Yes, I was spoiled by JD and he had a tough job coming in after him... but, yawn. (Being ambivalent about him is an improvement on how I used to feel)

Second Brendan Burke on the Isles broadcasts. He's great and someone I'm hoping is at least under consideration to make the Micheletti move next year, though it'll probably be Kenny taking over for Sam.
 

Chips

Registered User
Aug 19, 2015
8,471
7,280
I love Joe Benninati. I get why people find Laughlin grating, but you get used to him and they have chemistry.


I’m going to be pissed when ESPN steals Ovi’s record goal game and proceed to blow the call like his 800th. Joe B is Ovi’s voice
 

HugeInTheShire

You may not like me but, I'm Huge in the Shire
Mar 8, 2021
4,420
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Alberta
Avs are the worst, it's not even a debate. I also can't stand Edmonton's guy randomly yelling things.
Washington is right at the top of the list for sure.
AS for the Devils Bill Spaulding is easier on the ears than Steve "HE SCAAAAAAARES" Cangialosi was and Daneyko sounds like he's been chewing gravel most of the time, but his knowledge of the game and the Devils is top tier.
 

FunkySeeFunkyDo

Registered User
Aug 3, 2014
4,756
4,301
Pens fan that likes Sam Rosen and Mickey Redmond (kids check out Mickey’s stats on hockeydb). I find the Caps crew pretentious and in love with their own voices.
 

John Mandalorian

2022 Avs: The First Dance
Nov 29, 2018
11,658
7,373
Sometimes, depending on the opponent, I'll watch the other team's feed when they play the Rangers, just because I enjoy their PBP/commentary (Sam Rosen is a legend, but I like to switch it up sometimes).

My top 5, in no particular order:

- Ottawa (Gord Miller is awesome, love when he called games for NBC)
- San Jose (Randy Hahn has great energy. His calls during the Game 7 comeback vs Vegas are incredible)
- Washington (Joe Beninati really gets into it)
- Carolina (I like Mike Maniscalco's energy. Can do without Tripp, but Mike makes up for it)
- NY Rangers (my team, Sam Rosen is a legend, especially when he was paired with John Davidson)

It's also no contest that Colorado's team is the worst in the league. I cannot stand listening to Mark Moser whine and cry over every Avs penalty or goal allowed. He's such a homer in the worst way.

The Canes crew likes to manufacture stars far too early. In their recent game against the Avs, it was 1-0 Carolina after the first. They were already working on this narrative of Spencer Martin having the game of his life. That kind of came crashing down in the 2nd when the Avs woke up. It was kind of too early to lay it on that thick.

Agree 100% about San Jose and Randy Hahn. It’s a shame their games are on so late that many may not be aware. The guy is so smooth, it would take a complete dud of an anylyst to ruin it.

Good call on Ottawa as well.

Also agree that Sam Rosen is quite good.
 
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The Shadow

Registered User
Feb 9, 2013
1,256
1,115
Ok I gave the Capitals guys a listen and my feedback is that the colour guy really pronounces his words in a different way. Not really a fan of how he talks.

The play by play guy is decent but I switched back over to Cuthbert and Simpson and preferred it.
 

3074326

Registered User
Apr 9, 2009
11,749
11,359
USA
Always liked Dallas broadcasts, going back to when Dave Strader was there. I thought he was the best in the league. Loved when he did national games. RIP
 

John Mandalorian

2022 Avs: The First Dance
Nov 29, 2018
11,658
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Avs are the worst, it's not even a debate. I also can't stand Edmonton's guy randomly yelling things.
Washington is right at the top of the list for sure.
AS for the Devils Bill Spaulding is easier on the ears than Steve "HE SCAAAAAAARES" Cangialosi was and Daneyko sounds like he's been chewing gravel most of the time, but his knowledge of the game and the Devils is top tier.

As an Avs fan, it’s somewhat indulgent and satisfying that the Avs announcers are reviled so much. Is this so surprising when Bally’s was into regional sports coverage for so long? It’s like people aren’t aware that announcers like Harry Caray and Hawk Harrelson once existed for their fans and regional coverage. In high school/college, “know you’re audience” is a concept that makes sense. But suddenly in the NHL ecosystem, everyone wants pure journalism when it comes to regional coverage. Journalism doesn’t exist (or is scarce) in mainstream media and people are expecting pure journalism when it comes to regional coverage of NHL games? Do you not see how somewhat absurd this is given the world outside of the NHL ecosystem. Even Avs fans agree with everyone that their announcers are homers. In light of all of this, the real question is so what? And why does it matter? Maybe stop pretending like you can’t watch the other team’s coverage?
 
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Carbooja

Uncle Salaami
Jun 2, 2011
366
691
Brampton, Ontario
I just hopped on the Tampa feed, and to my surprise it's Paul Randorf and Brian Engblom. Enjoyed Paul when he was up here with TSN, how's he and Brian doing Tampa fans?
 

NyQuil

Big F$&*in Q
Jan 5, 2005
99,109
65,416
Ottawa, ON
As an Avs fan, it’s somewhat indulgent and satisfying that the Avs announcers are reviled so much. Is this so surprising when Bally’s was into regional sports coverage for so long? It’s like people aren’t aware that announcers like Harry Caray and Hawk Harrelson once existed for their fans and regional coverage. In high school/college, “know you’re audience” is a concept that makes sense. But suddenly in the NHL ecosystem, everyone wants pure journalism when it comes to regional coverage. Journalism doesn’t exist (or is scarce) in mainstream media and people are expecting pure journalism when it comes to regional coverage of NHL games? Do you not see how somewhat absurd this is given the world outside of the NHL ecosystem. Even Avs fans agree with everyone that their announcers are homers. In light of all of this, the real question is so what? And why does it matter? Maybe stop pretending like you can’t watch the other team’s coverage?

I mean, in a thread about which announcers you like around the league, it shouldn’t be surprising that guys who sulk like elementary school kids when the other team does something good are going to get a bad rating.

It just seems like amateur hour.

Plenty of announcers are able to summon some interest in the other team and give exciting plays their due, so whether it’s in line with the larger journalistic environment is irrelevant.

But I’m not going to protest or try to get them cancelled or anything. It’s a free country.
 

John Mandalorian

2022 Avs: The First Dance
Nov 29, 2018
11,658
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I mean, in a thread about which announcers you like around the league, it shouldn’t be surprising that guys who sulk like elementary school kids when the other team does something good are going to get a bad rating.

It just seems like amateur hour.

Plenty of announcers are able to summon some interest in the other team and give exciting plays their due, so whether it’s in line with the larger journalistic environment is irrelevant.

But I’m not going to protest or try to get them cancelled or anything. It’s a free country.

You’re just regurgitating things that have been said many times that I was addressing. And you think this is some form of rebuttal? Rinse and repeat? You’ve given me nothing of substance to respond to because you haven’t said anything that I haven’t already addressed.
 

NyQuil

Big F$&*in Q
Jan 5, 2005
99,109
65,416
Ottawa, ON
You’re just regurgitating things that have been said many times that I was addressing. And you think this is some form of rebuttal? Rinse and repeat? You’ve given me nothing of substance to respond to because you haven’t said anything that I haven’t already addressed.

I’m just reinforcing the obvious in the face of your feeble argument.

You like your homer announcers, great.

I don’t like homer announcers. I find it cringeworthy.

And that goes for TSN during the WJC where they go over the top jingoistic for Team Canada.

I don’t have to watch your announcers and I certainly don’t, but that doesn’t preclude me from having an opinion about that style of announcing in a thread that is literally about that topic.

There is a tradition of even-handed announcing in hockey to the point where over the top homers are the exception rather than the rule.
 
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John Mandalorian

2022 Avs: The First Dance
Nov 29, 2018
11,658
7,373
I’m just reinforcing the obvious in the face of your feeble argument.

You like your homer announcers, great.

When you have no argument, you don’t have the right to describe something as a a “feeble argument”.

And, I’m not calling you stupid but your reading comprehension is certainly fair to question. If you actually read my comment, at no point did I say I prefer the Avs announcers. Misattributing poitions/ideas/thoughts is the very definition of a straw man. And you actually use the word feeble.

If you look at the part of my comment that you seem to be complaining about, you’ll see I’m not defending the Avs announcing team per se as much as I’m calling out opposing fans who feel like they’re owed something.
 

NyQuil

Big F$&*in Q
Jan 5, 2005
99,109
65,416
Ottawa, ON
When you have no argument, you don’t have the right to describe something as a a “feeble argument”.

And, I’m not calling you stupid but your reading comprehension is certainly fair to question. If you actually read my comment, at no point did I say I prefer the Avs announcers. Misattributing poitions/ideas/thoughts is the very definition of a straw man. And you actually use the word feeble.

If you look at the part of my comment that you seem to be complaining about, you’ll see I’m not defending the Avs announcing team per se as much as I’m calling out opposing fans who feel like they’re owed something.

What is feeble is essentially advocating that people shouldn’t have an opinion on your broadcasting team because they have the choice not to listen to them, in a thread where people are discussing what they like and dislike about announcers.

Calling out people for having an opinion in a thread where they are being asked for opinions?

Can you be more obtuse?

If you actually enjoy the villainous role played by your amateur broadcasting crew, then you shouldn’t care what other people think of them anyway.

But I suspect it still bothers you for some reason.
 

John Mandalorian

2022 Avs: The First Dance
Nov 29, 2018
11,658
7,373
What is feeble is essentially advocating that people shouldn’t have an opinion on your broadcasting team because they have the choice not to listen to them, in a thread where people are discussing what they like and dislike about announcers.

Calling out people for having an opinion in a thread where they are being asked for opinions?

Can you be more obtuse?

If you actually enjoy the villainous role played by your amateur broadcasting crew, then you shouldn’t care what other people think of them anyway.

But I suspect it still bothers you for some reason.


Having an opinion is one thing. Having an opinion is easy and cheap. It costs nothing to have an opinion. Giving people a reason to care is a different matter. In most scenarios complaining can be euphemised as having an opinion. So why should others care about this opinion? In my initial comment that you responded to, I cited “know your audience”. If the Avs are doing that, what exactly is the point of having this opinion?
 

NyQuil

Big F$&*in Q
Jan 5, 2005
99,109
65,416
Ottawa, ON
Having an opinion is one thing. Having an opinion is easy and cheap. It costs nothing to have an opinion. Giving people a reason to care is a different matter. In most scenarios complaining can be euphemised as having an opinion. So why should others care about this opinion? In my initial comment that you responded to, I cited “know your audience”. If the Avs are doing that, what exactly is the point of having this opinion?

I don’t care about the Avs broadcasting crew.

They could do it naked for all I care.

Personally, I don’t like catering to the home team at the expense of the overall game experience. And that applies to Ottawa too.

There was a period of time where, on the Jumbotron at Sens games, they wouldn’t show any positive plays by the other team during the recap of the previous period.

Maybe they were trying to cater to the audience, or spare the goalie the reminders, but it ended up seeming rather pathetic when the other team would score 4 or 5 unanswered goals and we would see replays of a few hits and shots by the Sens and that’s it.

I want to see those goals by the other team. I’ve seen some incredible performances by legendary players against my team and the idea that they should be de-emphasized or glossed over because they play for the other team just smacks of insecurity.

Thankfully, that ended and now we see all the highlights of the game.

“Know your audience” seems to be a pretty poor defence of homer announcing when plenty of beloved broadcast teams are revered by their fans without resorting to that approach.
 

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