You’re absolutely spot on with everything you pointed out in this post.
There’s really no excuse for how poor ESPN’s hockey coverage is—it genuinely makes the game hard to watch.
If the Stars somehow get past the Wild and move on, I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do. YouTube TV doesn’t include ESPN+, and the coverage is so bad that I can’t bring myself to pay extra just to watch a few games—even when it’s my all-time favorite team, one I’ve followed since they moved to Dallas.
Admittedly, I haven’t taken the time to confirm whether the playoff games will be on ESPN or ESPN2. But if they end up being streaming-only, I won’t be watching.
The NHL has done the sport a real disservice with this ESPN partnership. I struggle to find a single positive in their coverage.
Meanwhile, the Turner broadcasts are fantastic. The chemistry and repartee—especially with Liam McHugh leading the desk—are exactly what hockey coverage should be. I enjoy everything about their presentation.
It increasingly feels like Gary Bettman is the kind of leader who digs in, no matter how flawed the position. Whether it’s the playoff format or the ESPN deal, that stubbornness is starting to hurt the game.
He deserves credit for the league’s growth—but it’s time for new leadership.
I had a similar frustration, but at the pivotal point in that Sabres game, ESPN was fumbling the actual broadcast as well. After the Tage Thompson tying goal, ESPN was showing a replay of the play developing, and cut the replay off before it got to the goal to return to live action, a couple seconds post puck-drop (I know you've campaigned for longer breaks post goals to give better analysis, but the window is the window, they should be prepared for it). Then immediately after the next whistle, they return to finish showing the replay of the goal, and then after the replay the camera goes back live to a mini-brawl on the ice, seemingky stunning the broadcasters.
All that to say, you're bang on, and its noticed by people outside of the media world too.
I don't typically criticize a broadcast. The TNT hockey crew meets my baseline for a studio broadcast: skilled host, decent chemistry, occasional insight from the ex-athletes. Not great but good enough. Reminds me of Fox baseball with Burkhardt, ARod, Jeter, Big Papi.
All that to say, Saturday MIN-DAL was my first time this season watching the ESPN broadcast and my goodness, I agree with Sean. The booth chemistry is lacking with Ray Ferraro in the tunnel, his mic level is off, not to mention he is too often overly generic with his color analysis. I do sorta enjoy pxp Bob Wischusen but I found it very odd to hear him calling the UTA-VGK game yesterday. So he is calling not one but two First Round series? And flying back-and-forth to Dallas and Vegas every single day?!? Wischusen is a pro but splitting his attention between four teams cannot be helpful for the depth and breadth of his knowledge for each series.
And don't even get me started on Leah Huxtall! What is her problem?! Thankfully her pxp experiment was mercifully ended a few seasons ago. But the lack of preparation as a sideline reporter is inexcusable. She is objectively terrible. And lest anyone accuse me of being misogynistic, the sideline reporter for UTA-VGK is Stormy Buonantony and she is a pro, probably because she also gets lots of sideline reps covering college fb and mbball. Also, AJ Mleczko is a superb color analyst.
As a Stars fan, and notable Bogorad+Razor homer (two of the best in the biz)!, when game is on ESPN only, I work hard to get the radio play-by-play sync’d to the video. It’s the only way I can stomach ESPN hockey.
Thank you for this! The question I have about this is the same question I have about the playoff format - does Bettman have his own opinion or will he listen to the multitudes who may disagree?
Living in Michigan I'm not all that familiar with the Canadian broadcast teams and the intermission panels. I kept seeing comments on "X" about how bad the group doing the Canes/Sens game was. Yet I was thrilled to be able to watch that games and not have to put up with Bucci, AJ, PK, and Mess.
You’re absolutely spot on with everything you pointed out in this post.
There’s really no excuse for how poor ESPN’s hockey coverage is—it genuinely makes the game hard to watch.
If the Stars somehow get past the Wild and move on, I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do. YouTube TV doesn’t include ESPN+, and the coverage is so bad that I can’t bring myself to pay extra just to watch a few games—even when it’s my all-time favorite team, one I’ve followed since they moved to Dallas.
Admittedly, I haven’t taken the time to confirm whether the playoff games will be on ESPN or ESPN2. But if they end up being streaming-only, I won’t be watching.
The NHL has done the sport a real disservice with this ESPN partnership. I struggle to find a single positive in their coverage.
Meanwhile, the Turner broadcasts are fantastic. The chemistry and repartee—especially with Liam McHugh leading the desk—are exactly what hockey coverage should be. I enjoy everything about their presentation.
It increasingly feels like Gary Bettman is the kind of leader who digs in, no matter how flawed the position. Whether it’s the playoff format or the ESPN deal, that stubbornness is starting to hurt the game.
He deserves credit for the league’s growth—but it’s time for new leadership.
I had a similar frustration, but at the pivotal point in that Sabres game, ESPN was fumbling the actual broadcast as well. After the Tage Thompson tying goal, ESPN was showing a replay of the play developing, and cut the replay off before it got to the goal to return to live action, a couple seconds post puck-drop (I know you've campaigned for longer breaks post goals to give better analysis, but the window is the window, they should be prepared for it). Then immediately after the next whistle, they return to finish showing the replay of the goal, and then after the replay the camera goes back live to a mini-brawl on the ice, seemingky stunning the broadcasters.
All that to say, you're bang on, and its noticed by people outside of the media world too.
Thoughtful writing as always, Sean.
I don't typically criticize a broadcast. The TNT hockey crew meets my baseline for a studio broadcast: skilled host, decent chemistry, occasional insight from the ex-athletes. Not great but good enough. Reminds me of Fox baseball with Burkhardt, ARod, Jeter, Big Papi.
All that to say, Saturday MIN-DAL was my first time this season watching the ESPN broadcast and my goodness, I agree with Sean. The booth chemistry is lacking with Ray Ferraro in the tunnel, his mic level is off, not to mention he is too often overly generic with his color analysis. I do sorta enjoy pxp Bob Wischusen but I found it very odd to hear him calling the UTA-VGK game yesterday. So he is calling not one but two First Round series? And flying back-and-forth to Dallas and Vegas every single day?!? Wischusen is a pro but splitting his attention between four teams cannot be helpful for the depth and breadth of his knowledge for each series.
And don't even get me started on Leah Huxtall! What is her problem?! Thankfully her pxp experiment was mercifully ended a few seasons ago. But the lack of preparation as a sideline reporter is inexcusable. She is objectively terrible. And lest anyone accuse me of being misogynistic, the sideline reporter for UTA-VGK is Stormy Buonantony and she is a pro, probably because she also gets lots of sideline reps covering college fb and mbball. Also, AJ Mleczko is a superb color analyst.
The NHL really needs to take a long look at who they are letting cover their games. Sad thing is, I know they won't. They go where the money is.
As a Stars fan, and notable Bogorad+Razor homer (two of the best in the biz)!, when game is on ESPN only, I work hard to get the radio play-by-play sync’d to the video. It’s the only way I can stomach ESPN hockey.
Thank you for this! The question I have about this is the same question I have about the playoff format - does Bettman have his own opinion or will he listen to the multitudes who may disagree?
Great article as per usual Sean. You read my mind and wrote it.
Living in Michigan I'm not all that familiar with the Canadian broadcast teams and the intermission panels. I kept seeing comments on "X" about how bad the group doing the Canes/Sens game was. Yet I was thrilled to be able to watch that games and not have to put up with Bucci, AJ, PK, and Mess.