Rumor: Big Changes Coming to HNIC Panel

[joestevens29]

FTR I love me Botterill, but I'll be the first one to state that she doesn't really go too in-depth. She's like store-brand vanilla ice cream and that's okay for me, but considering her to other female broadcasters she is the best. I haven't heard enough of Pounder to make an opinion of her.

I'm in line first if she gets divorced FYI.

Honestly the moment I loved her was when her and Bieksa were against the rest of the non-player panel. Have no idea what the topic was other than the non-player panel talking about how the players felt. I just love when players do that to people who think they know what players think. Strudwick did that to Robin Brownlee one time on local radio and I loved the guy ever since.

It just irritates me when you have non-players talking about what it's like from a players standpoint because they've been in dressing rooms before.

Edit: That was the most fired up Botterill ever was. I was kinda hoping she'd continue that passion.

 

[NyQuil]

He provides crazy good goaler insight, just because you don't nor care to understand it doesn't mean he's useless blud.

In general, I like the insight provided by goalies.

(e.g. Hrudey, Biron, Noodles, Lundqvist, Pang)

I find they tend to be very self-deprecating (in terms of making fun of themselves) but I think they have a unique perspective not only on how goalies perform but also on the teams performing in front of them.

I think they have a pretty good batting average as analysts.

 

[JianYang]

Botterill might be the best female analyst I've seen.

Cheryl Pounder is fantastic. I'd say she is tops.

It would be a shame if they let bieksa go. He gives the crew a refreshing vibe, and is the best analyst they have.

McLean has been at this gig since the 80s, and it's likely a case where it's just time to go. It just hasn't been the same since Rogers acquired the rights in the first place, and they moved Ron over to hometown hockey. He just doesn't feel like he's an essential peice to hnic anymore.

Hrudey is fine. I don't have a strong opinion on him one way or the other. He's pretty much been with hnic since he retired from the nhl though, so I imagine his contract is kinda bloated by this point.

 

[Howie Hodge]

Ron MacLean hasn't been a class act for a long time. He should've been 86'ed long ago.

Friedman is really the only person on the broadcast they can't replace. But Ron is the only person who absolutely should be gone.

Assen na yo

What do you mean? A middle aged man, drunk in a Bar and playing air guitar isn't a class act???

 

[NyQuil]

What do you mean? A middle aged man, drunk in a Bar and playing air guitar isn't a class act???

It's easy to laugh at that man, until you become that man.

McLean has been at this gig since the 80s, and it's likely a case where it's just time to go. It just hasn't been the same since Rogers acquired the rights in the first place, and they moved Ron over to hometown hockey. He just doesn't feel like he's an essential peice to hnic anymore.

Ron was sort of the perfect guy for that gig.

The travel probably sucks and it isn't as high profile, but his encyclopedic knowledge of Canadiana and hockey was an asset.

 

[digmor crusher]

Intermissions have been terrible since Cherry left. I do not find player interviews or analysts reviewing plays from the games interesting at all. I do not see the point of having a female on the panel who has never played in the NHL just for the sake of having a female on the panel.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

FTR I love me Botterill, but I'll be the first one to state that she doesn't really go too in-depth. She's like store-brand vanilla ice cream and that's okay for me, but considering her to other female broadcasters she is the best. I haven't heard enough of Pounder to make an opinion of her.

AJ Mlezcko is the best of the ladies, IMO, if you're considering a total package of both communication ability, knowledge, and credibility.

Like, you've got women who didn't play but can run a panel (Kathryn Tappen) and women who played but aren't great communicators, (Botterill, though shes not horrible) but Mlezcko checks both boxes.

 

[NyQuil]

I do not see the point of having a female on the panel who has never played in the NHL just for the sake of having a female on the panel.

Elliotte Friedman has never played in the NHL, nor Ron MacLean, or David Amber, or Cabbie.

 

[S E P H]

TNT did a solid job of rotating through multiple guys after Tochett left and still maintaining good chemistry.

Honestly, they could get rid of Gretzky and maintain all those salaries with his $5M. I was for Wayne being on the broadcast initially, but he's there about 20% of the time, and when he is there, you can't tell he doesn't want to be.

Gretzky looks bored AF on the broadcast and that comes across in his dialogue. I agree he shouldn't be on there, but he was only for the playoffs and I am fine with that. The weird thing is that he kept getting things right in his commentary and shows the vision he has for the sport and why TNT brought him originally on. Honestly, the best lineup TNT had was with Biz, Hughes, Carter, Armstrong, and I think Lundqvist was on there as well. That was just a bunch of great stories and hockey analysis. Biz and Armstrong have great chemistry together.

 

[JianYang]

It's easy to laugh at that man, until you become that man.



Ron was sort of the perfect guy for that gig.

The travel probably sucks and it isn't as high profile, but his encyclopedic knowledge of Canadiana and hockey was an asset.

Yeah, I can't disagree with that. I'm talking specifically about hnic though. I think his magic is mostly gone in that role. Even his signature anecdotes are kinda missing the mark these days.

If they replace him with David amber for example, I doubt I miss mclean all that much.

 

[joestevens29]

Elliotte Friedman has never played in the NHL, nor Ron MacLean, or David Amber, or Cabbie.

I agree. Don't really care what sex someone is or what their background is. If they are knowledgeable and there is a good mix of ex-hockey players and non hockey players I'm fine.

TNT did a solid job of rotating through multiple guys after Tochett left and still maintaining good chemistry.

Honestly, they could get rid of Gretzky and maintain all those salaries with his $5M. I was for Wayne being on the broadcast initially, but he's there about 20% of the time, and when he is there, you can't tell he doesn't want to be.

While I don't like that Gretzky is making that kind of coin, I get why he's making it.

But from a personal standpoint him being on a panel is far better than when he was with the Oilers in some made up job. Guy was just hammered all the time. And because of who he was they'd show him every time he was at a game. And every time the guy looked like the most sauced guy in the section.

 

[S E P H]

In general, I like the insight provided by goalies.

(e.g. Hrudey, Biron, Noodles, Lundqvist, Pang)

I find they tend to be very self-deprecating (in terms of making fun of themselves) but I think they have a unique perspective not only on how goalies perform but also on the teams performing in front of them.

I think they have a pretty good batting average as analysts.

Here is one segment of what you find on TNT. Not sure what happened with SportsNet's 50 trillion dollar studio where they don't provide actual analysis of the games. Hrudey is definitely the worst of the bunch, comes across as preachy all the time while getting stuff constantly wrong.

 

[NyQuil]

Yeah, I can't disagree with that. I'm talking specifically about hnic though. I think his magic is mostly gone in that role. Even his signature anecdotes are kinda missing the mark these days.

I agree. He was almost awkward in the role when he returned, trying to be someone he wasn't.

 

[joestevens29]

Here is one segment of what you find on TNT. Not sure what happened with SportsNet's 50 trillion dollar studio where they don't provide actual analysis of the games. Hrudey is definitely the worst of the bunch, comes across as preachy all the time while getting stuff constantly wrong.

Oddly enough Hrudey won me over during playoffs. Seemed like his bias finally left and he was providing decent analysis.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

I agree. Don't really care what sex someone is or what their background is. If they are knowledgeable and there is a good mix of ex-hockey players and non hockey players I'm fine.


While I don't like that Gretzky is making that kind of coin, I get why he's making it.

But from a personal standpoint him being on a panel is far better than when he was with the Oilers in some made up job. Guy was just hammered all the time. And because of who he was they'd show him every time he was at a game. And every time the guy looked like the most sauced guy in the section.

Gretzky was basically a "F U Money" hire.

He's not truly worth $5M, especially for how often he shows up, but he's the biggest name in the history of hockey, so simply showing his face on TV gives your broadcast credibility.

It's just that he doesn't give two shits about being there lol.

 

[Debrincat93]

Never got the Bieksa hype.
Botterill was horrendous.
Personal but if MacLean is placed with Marek then im OK with it. Otherwise, no.
i liked Hrudy but felt maybe he was ready to move on.

 

[S E P H]

AJ Mlezcko is the best of the ladies, IMO, if you're considering a total package of both communication ability, knowledge, and credibility.

Like, you've got women who didn't play but can run a panel (Kathryn Tappen) and women who played but aren't great communicators, (Botterill, though shes not horrible) but Mlezcko checks both boxes.

Mlezcko is better as the arena analyst, I don't find her particularly useful during intermissions. Pang is another one, better during the game, but awful during the intermission break.

 

[joestevens29]

Gretzky was basically a "F U Money" hire.

He's not truly worth $5M, especially for how often he shows up, but he's the biggest name in the history of hockey, so simply showing his face on TV gives your broadcast credibility.

It's just that he doesn't give two shits about being there lol.

Oh I 100% agree.

I do however question how him presenting himself the way he does really actually helps anything. Sure biggest name ever, but at what point do people just not care that he's even there. Like sure you'll get some people to tune in from time to time, but it'll wear thin.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

Oh I 100% agree.

I do however question how him presenting himself the way he does really actually helps anything. Sure biggest name ever, but at what point do people just not care that he's even there. Like sure you'll get some people to tune in from time to time, but it'll wear thin.

I mean, for what it's worth I don't blame him. He's an old guy showing up to work and making a ton of money.

But from a TNT standpoint I wouldn't waste the money once his contract is over. They've already established that they have a fantastic broadcast. Gretzky is almost never there and when he is, it's a big event to where he's not the draw or focal point.

 

[PocketNines]

TNT's panel has completely gelled and it's becoming an actual must-watch part of the telecast. I think HNIC realizes how big the quality gap suddenly became and they have to do something, because this was an extremely boring, stolid show they put on this past playoffs. But keeping Friedman is a sign they don't fully get it, his kind of hockey input is mismatched with the middle of a game IMO. He is a before and after pundit, the telecasts need middle of the battle contributors.

 

[bossram]

When I was 11 years old we had a road hockey tournament and I called up a buddy who lived down the street and told him to come play. I remember him riding in on his bike with one hand on the bars and the other holding his stick straight up in the air, all while he was singing the HNIC theme song at the top of his lungs. DUN DU NUH DU NUH, DUN DU NUH DU NUH, DUN DU NUH DU NUH DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!

It really does bother me how one of our cultural institutions has been carved up and sold to the telecoms who've accelerated it directly into the ground. Hello Canada and hockey fans in the United States and Newfoundland, can you believe that you can PARLEY ON EVERY PLAY?

Oh I definitely can...

Yeah. It sucks. And it degrades the product further, so fewer people tune in or care, and then the big-wig execs can't fathom to figure out why people are losing interest.

And I say this as someone who enjoys sports betting and the betting content space. It just doesn't belong on the regular broadcast, and certainly not in the manner they're doing it.

 

[bossram]

So, you're saying I shouldn't bad mouth Rogers as I may have a job opportunity ?

Nah, because Rogers/Sportsnet definitely ain't hiring anybody. Increasing expenses is antithetical to their existence.

They'll probably have an "AI" panel next season, that'll tell you the live odds of the game for the entire intermission and how many boosted SGPs they have available.

 

[CTHabsfan]

I think Jennifer Botterill is OK until the subject turns to physicality in hockey, which she doe not like. It looks like she's going to cry whenever someone disagrees.

 

[ranold26]

Clearly the panel will be replaced with AI Slot machines and more gambling ads.

 

[the squared circle]

Bring back Peter Puck.