US announcer assignments for Stanley Cup Playoffs

[Fenway]

St. Louis Blues vs. Winnipeg Jets, Game 1 - John Forslund, Jennifer Botterill & Meaghan Mikkelson - TNT
Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars, Game 1 -  Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher & Ashali Vise - TNT

New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes, Game 1 - Mike Monaco, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan - ESPN
Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs, Game 1 - John Buccigross, Kevin Weekes - ESPN2
Minnesota Wild at Vegas Golden Knights, Game 1 - Bob Wischusen, Ryan Callahan, Leah Hextall - ESPN
Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals, Game 1 - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan - ESPN
St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets, Game 2 - John Buccigross, Kevin Weekes - ESPN2
Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars, Game 2 - Bob Wischusen, Ryan Callahan, Leah Hextall - ESPN
Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings, Game 1 - Roxy Bernstein, Cassie Campbell-Pascall - ESPN2

 

[ViD]

Where’s Joe Beninati?

 

[KrugAvoy]

ESPN remote calling the Canada games? Lame

 

[Fenway]

Where’s Joe Beninati?

First Round he will do Washington TV

 

[S E P H]

Whatever matches Bob Wischusen is doing is already S-tier.

 

[John Mandalorian]

* Don’t like

 

[Fenway]

I think ESPN/ABC has the best #1 crew overall, but TNT is superior, as all their crews are good.

I suspect the US partners will be renewed in 3 years.

I feel bad for Canadian viewers, as it appears Bettman had no interest in letting TSN even make an offer. Conventional wisdom is having multiple partners, like the other major sports in the US, but instead, Rogers got the option of subleasing rights to Amazon and the Francophone market. I suspect Bettman is not happy with how TSN/CTV has covered concussions and CTE. Rogers doesn't look for trouble.

ESPN and TNT won't break a bad NHL story, but they won't avoid talking about one once the story breaks (Blackhawks)

Bell (RDS) might wind up with the Francophone rights, as I doubt TVAS wants to commit to 12 more years.

The negative with the US coverage is that ESPN and TNT also cover the NBA, but that will change for the 2025-2026 season when NBC takes over the TNT window.

TNT has done a good job with the NHL, especially with the studio show in Atlanta.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Lmao imagine doing games remote in the playoffs. Pay for the flight you cheap f***s.

 

[Penguin Suited Up]

Whatever matches Bob Wischusen is doing is already S-tier.

Except Leah Hextall is on them, so not.

 

[Fenway]

Lmao imagine doing games remote in the playoffs. Pay for the flight you cheap f***s.

It is more than flights and hotels

Scotiabank Arena can handle a second truck for a US feed ( but not a third, as NBC found out in 2019 )

Winnipeg can only deal with 2 trucks, and the St. Louis regional gets priority.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

It is more than flights and hotels

Scotiabank Arena can handle a second truck for a US feed ( but not a third, as NBC found out in 2019 )

View attachment 1017466

Winnipeg can only deal with 2 trucks, and the St. Louis regional gets priority.

Wouldn't it just be one truck in Toronto as it is right now? There is no regional broadcast with an all Canadian matchup. Just Rogers.

 

[GKJ]

ESPN is not doing remote broadcasts

 

[VaporTrail]

* Don’t like

Not a fan either.

 

[NextBigThing]

Terrible look for the league to have playoff games being called remotely.

 

[NextBigThing]

ESPN is not doing remote broadcasts

Read the first post buddy. Fenway has the sources.

Ottawa/Toronto game 1 and Winnipeg/St Louis game 2 are being called by Bucci and Weekes remotely from Bristol, CT.

 

[GKJ]

Read the first post buddy. Fenway has the sources.

Ottawa/Toronto game 1 and Winnipeg/St Louis game 2 are being called by Bucci and Weekes remotely from Bristol, CT.

 

[Jason316]

 

[NextBigThing]

@Fenway what’s going on here? Are Bucci and Weekes calling the game from the studio or in the building. Your original post made it seem like they’re calling it remotely from Bristol.

 

[Gjman2019]

I think ESPN/ABC has the best #1 crew overall, but TNT is superior, as all their crews are good.

I suspect the US partners will be renewed in 3 years.

I feel bad for Canadian viewers, as it appears Bettman had no interest in letting TSN even make an offer. Conventional wisdom is having multiple partners, like the other major sports in the US, but instead, Rogers got the option of subleasing rights to Amazon and the Francophone market. I suspect Bettman is not happy with how TSN/CTV has covered concussions and CTE. Rogers doesn't look for trouble.

ESPN and TNT won't break a bad NHL story, but they won't avoid talking about one once the story breaks (Blackhawks)

Bell (RDS) might wind up with the Francophone rights, as I doubt TVAS wants to commit to 12 more years.

The negative with the US coverage is that ESPN and TNT also cover the NBA, but that will change for the 2025-2026 season when NBC takes over the TNT window.

TNT has done a good job with the NHL, especially with the studio show in Atlanta.

It's neat how different people see things different from one another........To me one of the best parts of the playoffs (here in Ontario) is not having to deal with TSN anymore......Sportsnet has done a great job upping their game as far as as having really good announcing teams doing the games for the Canadian teams.............Looking at the list in post 1 it's the US fans i feel for......

 

[Gjman2019]

I remeber in the early 90's when the Blue Jays were makng those WS runs and Sean McDonough was doing the play by play for CBS ........I didn't watch full games because i'm not much of a baseball guy but i was in and out of the games a bit because it was Toronto and McDonough was awesome......Was very impressed with him......

Now when i hear him do a hockey game it's just terrible...........Whatever mojo he had doing baseball it sure didn't carry over to hockey............

 

[a mangy Meowth]

f***

 

[JKG33]

Other than Kenny Albert & co and the Bucci/Weeks duo, thats a whole lotta yikes. But its not like sportsnet has any better. Probably another year of hammerhead glazing the Oilers

 

[Gjman2019]

Other than Kenny Albert & co and the Bucci/Weeks duo, thats a whole lotta yikes. But its not like sportsnet has any better. Probably another year of hammerhead glazing the Oilers

Other than John Barlett i think Sportsnet is really good......Bartlett's voice doesn't suit hockey.....Sounds like he should be narrating children's movies......Just being honest, not saying it to make fun of him.......

When it comes to the US the NBA and NFL have such great announcers like Jim Nantz, Ian Eagle, Kevin Harlan, Mike Breen, Joe Buck etc , and yet the Hockey annoucers are so terrible......Kind of strange but true.....

 

[JKG33]

Other than John Barlett i think Sportsnet is really good......Bartlett's voice doesn't suit hockey.....Sounds like he should be narrating children's movies......Just being honest, not saying it to make fun of him.......

When it comes to the US the NBA and NFL have such great announcers like Jim Nantz, Ian Eagle, Kevin Harlan, Mike Breen, Joe Buck etc , and yet the Hockey annoucers are so terrible......Kind of strange but true.....

I don't mind Bartlett. Cuthbert is ok too. I agree with you about the NFL & MLB, but I will say it does feel like a lot of the NHL's best are on regional broadcasts. With Albert & Faust splitting NYR duties, Randorf (TB), Nickson (LA), Goldstein (FLA), Miller (TOR/OTT).. im sure theres a couple more im forgetting

 

[Fenway]

@Fenway what’s going on here? Are Bucci and Weekes calling the game from the studio or in the building. Your original post made it seem like they’re calling it remotely from Bristol.

@NextBigThing The first press release said Bristol

I am guessing there was pushback from the NHL