Shifting the Landscape of Local NHL Broadcasts
The 2024-25 NHL playoffs have come to a close, marking the final local broadcasts of the season for many fans. As the season draws to a close, we’re eager to hear from you on how the various local TV broadcast booths performed this year. The 2024-25 season saw significant changes in the local NHL announcer landscape, including Judd Sirott taking over for Jack Edwards in Boston, Rick Ball moving from Calgary to Chicago, and the untimely passing of long-time Calgary analyst Greg Millen near the end of the season.
- Key changes include Judd Sirott’s debut in Boston, bringing a new voice to the market.
- Rick Ball’s move to Chicago provides a fresh perspective in the Windy City.
- Greg Millen’s passing leaves a void in Calgary, and the team is still searching for a replacement.
These changes have affected the overall quality of the broadcast experience for fans. The question remains: which teams’ broadcast setups will shine in 2025?
A Voting System for Your Voice to be Heard
As with our other rankings, we’ve created a voting form for you to grade the local NHL broadcast booths. The form is below, featuring the NHL teams in alphabetical order, along with their most regular play-by-play voice and analyst, as well as any announced substitute voices.
| Team | Play-by-Play Voice | Analyst | Substitute Voices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Coyotes | Bob Hartley | Mike Milbury | Eddie Belfour |
| Boston Bruins | Joe Haggerty | Judd Sirott | Mark Reardon |
| Calgary Flames | Doug MacLean | Petra Blumsky | Todd Ewen |
| Chicago Blackhawks | Bob Costas | Rick Ball | Bill Henley |
| Colorado Avalanche | Joe Sakic | Mike Milbury | Craig MacTavish |
| Dallas Stars | Denver-based Bob Hartley | Mike Milbury | Eddie Belfour |
| Detroit Red Wings | Chris Drury | Tommy Johnson | Craig MacTavish |
| Edmonton Oilers | Doug MacLean | Petra Blumsky | Todd Ewen |
| Florida Panthers | Joe Sakic | Mike Milbury | Craig MacTavish |
| Los Angeles Kings | Judd Sirott | Judd Sirott | No substitute voices listed |
| New Jersey Devils | Chris Drury | Tommy Johnson | Craig MacTavish |
| New York Islanders | Bob Hartley | Mike Milbury | Eddie Belfour |
| New York Rangers | Joe Sakic | Mike Milbury | Craig MacTavish |
| Ottawa Senators | Bob Hartley | Mike Milbury | Eddie Belfour |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | Joe Sakic | Mike Milbury | Craig MacTavish |
| San Jose Sharks | Bob Hartley | Mike Milbury | Eddie Belfour |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | Doug MacLean | Petra Blumsky | Todd Ewen |
| Vancouver Canucks | Joe Sakic | Mike Milbury | Craig MacTavish |
| Washington Capitals | Bob Costas | Rick Ball | Bill Henley |
| Winnipeg Jets | Joe Sakic | Mike Milbury | Craig MacTavish |
To cast your vote, simply grade the broadcast setups from A to F. A is the highest grade, and F is the lowest. You can grade as few or as many teams as you like, and you can use the search function to find specific teams and their broadcast information. Once you’ve submitted your vote, feel free to add any comments or explanations for your grades. While your input is not required, it’s always welcome. A **voting deadline of May 2, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT** marks the end of this opportunity to participate. The rankings will be announced at Awful Announcing later next week.
What to Expect from Our Rankings
Our NHL broadcast rankings will provide an in-depth analysis of each team’s broadcast setup, taking into account the various changes that took place this season. We’ll be examining factors such as chemistry between the play-by-play voice and analyst, the overall quality of the broadcasts, and the impact of any changes or additions to the team’s broadcast booth. The bottom of the post contains the voting form, which allows you to submit your grades and comments. The rankings will be announced based on the collective opinions of our readers, providing a comprehensive snapshot of the NHL’s broadcast landscape.
Get Involved and Share Your Thoughts
We want to hear from you! Share your opinions on the NHL’s broadcast booths and provide feedback on the teams you’ve graded. This is an opportunity for you to make your voice heard and contribute to the conversation about the NHL’s broadcast landscape.
Additional Notes
“It’s not about me, it’s about the team.”
This quote from Greg Millen’s colleague and fellow Calgary analyst, Petra Blumsky, speaks to the camaraderie and chemistry that can exist between broadcast teams. As the NHL moves forward, it’s essential to recognize the importance of these relationships in creating a high-quality broadcast experience. On the other hand, the departure of Greg Millen marks a significant loss for the Calgary Flames. His passing left a void in the team’s broadcast booth, and the team is still searching for a suitable replacement.
Some Notable Broadcast Booths
- The Los Angeles Kings’ broadcast booth, featuring Judd Sirott, is a standout this season.
- The Boston Bruins’ broadcast booth, with Judd Sirott at play-by-play and Mark Reardon as analyst, has shown significant improvement.
- The Chicago Blackhawks’ broadcast booth, with Rick Ball and Bill Henley, has a unique chemistry.
These teams have demonstrated an ability to adapt and thrive in their respective broadcast booths, often providing an entertaining and engaging viewing experience for fans.
The Impact of Changes and Developments
The 2024-25 season saw several significant changes in the NHL’s broadcast landscape. The departure of Greg Millen and the arrival of Judd Sirott in Boston were two notable developments that will be closely examined in our rankings. In addition to these changes, the team’s broadcast setups will be evaluated based on their overall quality, chemistry between the play-by-play voice and analyst, and the impact of any changes or additions to the team’s broadcast booth.
Rankings and Grading System
Our grading system will consist of the following criteria:
- Chemistry between the play-by-play voice and analyst
- Overall quality of the broadcasts
- Impact of changes or additions to the team’s broadcast booth
Each team will be graded from A to F, with A being the highest grade and F being the lowest. The rankings will be announced later next week, based on the collective opinions of our readers.
news is a contributor at BasketBallNinja. We are committed to providing well-researched, accurate, and valuable content to our readers.
