Meritocracy for announcers too

[andora]

Maybe, at the same time you’d expect a former HOF to be more insightful about the game than someone who never played in the NHL.

Im surprised he isnt saying more elbows

 

[HFBS]

If I go the rest of my life without seeing or hearing PK Slewfoot, I'll be a happy man.

I can't believe there's anyone who likes Subban who's over the age of twelve.

It it were a meritocracy, Joe Beninati would be doing all the biggest games.

He's passable but Kenny Albert is a way better announcer. Albert is not a clown, so some aren't going to like him.

 

[dahrougem2]

Not just the studio guys, the PxP guys too.

There is no reason Kenny Albert and/or Bob Wischusen shouldn't be calling the biggest games. They should each get a conference final then one gets the SCF.

Instead, that absolute corpse Sean McDonough gets to be the lead guy and is the single most monotoned, boring announcer I have ever heard. I don't even see why he became a broadcaster. He sounds like he hates his job.

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDo]

Love PK Subban. Hate Messier. IMO Messier is no good and only got that job because of his great playing career and name. Commentators should get their jobs based on merit; not because of their name. PK is fantastic!

I hate them all. I can’t decide which annoy me the least.

PK is absolutely horrendous and if he does have a point, it’s lost in his fake banter or screaming. Agreed on meritocracy in broadcasting though. If we think hockey coaches are all retreads just look at these broadcasting booths.This also applies to the “pros” like Buccigross or Levy, that think the narrative is more interesting than the actual game. If there is any attrition, these networks inevitably shoehorn in as many women as humanly possible to replace them, competency be damned. I’ll gladly be labeled a misogynist if it means Cassie Campbell and Leah Hextall aren’t on the feed.

You’re a misogynist.

 

[NyQuil]

He’s not paid to be a homer. He’s paid to be an analyst, and he’s generally not very good at it

Are you familiar with Sportsnet?

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Ed Olczyk is like one of those defensive Dmen who has been washed for years but is still getting contract offers every year. Except I guess in his case he was never a good announcer.

The other thing I've noticed recently is announcers praising other announcers, no one cares, we're here to watch hockey not listen to you. Just call the game.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Pronger was interesting the other night. Can't get over how massive that dude is. He made the others look like little leaguers.

As much as I hated him when he played, he's a really smart dude and articulate guy.

 

[JianYang]

Not just the studio guys, the PxP guys too.

There is no reason Kenny Albert and/or Bob Wischusen shouldn't be calling the biggest games. They should each get a conference final then one gets the SCF.

Instead, that absolute corpse Sean McDonough gets to be the lead guy and is the single most monotoned, boring announcer I have ever heard. I don't even see why he became a broadcaster. He sounds like he hates his job.

I know it's all subjective but I find Albert to be very vanilla.

 

[dahrougem2]

I know it's all subjective but I find Albert to be very vanilla.

Moreso than McDonough? I think Albert has a unique voice and his calls on goals are quite energetic.

McDonough to me sounds like he could be calling a funeral service.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

PK is camera savvy but he never had anything interesting to say when you get down to it.

 

[JianYang]

Moreso than McDonough? I think Albert has a unique voice and his calls on goals are quite energetic.

McDonough to me sounds like he could be calling a funeral service.

I don't really care for him either.


I think forslund is probably my favourite south of the border and Bartlett up north.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Carlo Colaiacovo somehow gets a paycheck for what is generously called "analysis"

 

[The Nuge]

Are you familiar with Sportsnet?

I am. I also think Hrudey for example is a terrible analyst because he can’t separate his love of the Flames and what is clear as day to everyone else. Are we supposed to praise Subban because he might not be the single worst analyst?

 

[Bard Marchand]

The ESPN crew of PK, Mess, and Constipation Face have zero chemistry with other, they all seem like they can barely tolerate each other since their banter is so forced.

 

[End of Line]

Not just the studio guys, the PxP guys too.

There is no reason Kenny Albert and/or Bob Wischusen shouldn't be calling the biggest games. They should each get a conference final then one gets the SCF.

Instead, that absolute corpse Sean McDonough gets to be the lead guy and is the single most monotoned, boring announcer I have ever heard. I don't even see why he became a broadcaster. He sounds like he hates his job.

100% agreed. McDonough would be better at calling only golf. He’s awful at college football as well and always has been. Brings zero emotion to whatever sport he calls. His rant about Indiana against Notre Dame pissed me off since it was unneeded and unwarranted.

Bob Wichausen should be their #1 pbp guy for ESPN. He brings emotion to every game he calls. Which is what I miss most about not hearing Doc Emrick call games anymore.

 

[Oleksiak]

I am. I also think Hrudey for example is a terrible analyst because he can’t separate his love of the Flames and what is clear as day to everyone else. Are we supposed to praise Subban because he might not be the single worst analyst?

Yup. Singh, MacLean, and Gazdic also have done nothing to indicate they're willing or able to act like professionals. Would have loved to see TSN get the contract and see these dirtbags lose their jobs.

 

[Strangle]

All of these terrible announcers and analysts meanwhile, in Toronto Joe Bowen is forced to call games on the radio and Don Cherry was fired years ago

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Oh it's definitely not a meritocracy. For my money, John Bartlett is No. 1 on SportsNet but he is not top billing and may never get there. On TNT, for my money the best PxP person in the entire business is Brendan Burke. He is smooth, simple and very very easy to listen to. I end up watching WAY more Islanders games because of Burke than any other team not named my Penguins. He sounds great. Forslund is great, too. And I like Kenny Albert, but I want to hear him next season on MSG without Eddie O interrupting him every minute and a half! On ESPN, I like Bob Wuschusen best. Maybe the only one. TSN's best may be Dan Robertson with the Jets. Miller is an acquired taste, but I have since acquired it. He is a voice of hockey, no doubt.

As for TVASports, their best PxP man is without hesitation the great Denis Casavant. He can do any sport flawlessly. He is the Kenny Albert of french media. But he is no higher than No. 2, unfortunately. He never does Canadiens games or Stanley Cup finals. For shame. Their lead guy Felix Seguin is not good, to be polite.

In french, there can only be one Pierre Houde. He is an all-time great. But I do agree with the concept that all of these voices are in the eye of the beholder and completely and totally subjective.

 

[Crow]

Ed Olczyk is like one of those defensive Dmen who has been washed for years but is still getting contract offers every year. Except I guess in his case he was never a good announcer.

The other thing I've noticed recently is announcers praising other announcers, no one cares, we're here to watch hockey not listen to you. Just call the game.

He was perfectly fine for years on the local broadcast but it eventually got very repetitive and corny.

He’s also decent with the Kraken now too imo. Kraken fans like him I think.

I don’t think he’s bad, in fact he is better than a lot of them out there but he has a short shelf life.

 

[Hivemind]

PK fills the role on the intermission desk he was hired to. He's the banter guy.

Messier is supposed to be the X-Os hockey analysis guy, and he's just... not. He's a stiff hockey cliche guy with negative charisma.

 

[Bounces R Way]

The ESPN desk sucks when it's Levy, Subban, and Messier. When they get a 4th in it's usually a bit better. Generally like most of the TNT broadcasts although Eddie O and Bouch are grating even on their best days. TNT intermissions >>>>> Spertsnert's nightmare blunt rotation.

 

[JianYang]

That woman who did game 1 of the jets stars series sounds like AI. It sort of sounded like Cassie Campbell but I'm not 100% sure who it was.

Wake up.

 

[edevils]

Where the hell is Doc when you need him?

 

[majormajor]

PK is camera savvy but he never had anything interesting to say when you get down to it.

Not actually great at witty banter either. Just a good smile and the typical self-obsession that people mistake for personality.

Where the hell is Doc when you need him?

There are so many better announcers now - Albert, Burke, Wischusen, etc... who can call a game normally and don't have screechy voices.

 

[JimmyH]

Biz

Sociopath.