When did Sportsnet's Hockey Night In Canada lose its way?
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6. Too many bodies. Having six (and sometimes seven) competing talking heads during pre-games and intermission is drastic overkill. The result is that the sum of the parts is thus far less dynamic than some of the individuals. It also mutes the potential star power of those on the panel hired to provide just that.
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7. Back to the TNT-HNIC comparison. Not that pre-game interviews are often revealing, but prior to Game 6 the American broadcaster did a better setup job with rinkside comments from the key face of each team — the Oilers' Connor McDavid and the Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk.
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8. Chemistry. I'm of the belief that there are enough engaging voices on the Hockey Night crew, but the key to making them shine is to have them work with each other. On-air chemistry shouts authenticity to the viewer and the show aches for this.
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9. Entertainment value. As one seasoned observer of the telecasts put it to me, none of the on-air group are a disaster (though some are better than others) but there is a blandness to the group. Analysis is important, but when it comes across as overdone and scripted, it's begging viewers to turn to the baseball game at intermission.
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10. Give us some banter. For all its faults, especially towards the end, the back-and-forth between MacLean and Don Cherry on Coach's Corner was appointment viewing. I'm not sure if anything does that in the current iteration. Over on TNT, meanwhile, you get to hear Wayne Gretzky giving it to Bissonnette or the panel goading Barkley into telling viewers why he jokingly detests Seth Jones because of his NBA-playing father Popeye.
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11. Inane analysis. Not a slight on Jennifer Botterill specifically, but when five commentators are asked to come up with three or four talking points per intermission, it's a reach. Case in point: After 40 minutes on Tuesday, with all but the final score inevitable, Botterill said 'Can the Oilers find a way to come back? Absolutely.' If the former Canadian Olympian really believed that, she might have been the only one in the building.
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12. Kelly Hrudey could be better used. If anyone gets lost in the drone of competing voices, it might be him. On a more focussed show, for example, a host would have grilled him more on the struggles of Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, a huge story line throughout and again in Game 6. Hrudey offered some of that in the second intermission, but we wanted more.
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13. Speaking of more … As previously noted in this space, the one potential impact voice is Kevin Bieksa, the former hard-nosed defenceman who dishes hard-nosed commentary. Let him loose. And maybe bring in the always-opinionated Nick Kypreos for the odd cameo.
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14. Take a breath. When there are so many talking heads scrambling to get in as many words as possible, information overload mutes the impact. Too often, the show needs to breathe.
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15. Chris Cuthbert. No, the veteran play-by-play man isn't a fault — he's the opposite. From Sidney Crosby's Golden Goal to now, he has been the voice of so many iconic Canadian hockey moments and continues to be so just as the late, great Bob Cole was in his day. Now it's incumbent for Cuthbert to have a better produced show around him.
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40 minutes ago
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CTV News
an hour ago
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Maybe next year? A look at where Canadian teams stand amid Stanley Cup drought
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Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
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Panthers Cup win worth studying
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A total of 11 players were signed in free agency and seven were acquired in trades (including Bennett, Marchand, Tkachuk and Reinhart, who had four goals in the clincher). One of the best D-men of the playoffs, Gustav Forsling, was claimed off waivers from the Carolina Hurricanes, before growing into a player that has made life difficult for Oilers captain Connor McDavid during the past two playoff meetings. It's worth noting the Panthers' roster featured 14 returnees that also had won the Stanley Cup in 2024, while Marchand (2011 with the Boston Bruins) and forward Nico Sturm (2022 with the Colorado Avalanche) brought additional championship pedigree in separate deadline deals. While it's true that Zito doesn't encounter some of the impediments the Jets run into when it comes to no-trade clauses and attracting top-end free agents, here are three lessons Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and company can borrow from the Panthers as the the off-season ramps up: There's no denying the impact that the Panthers top players had throughout the playoffs, punctuated by the final series, but when your third line provides outstanding defensive play to go along with 57 points, you know you've got the formula for success. Marchand (10 goals, 20 points), Luostarinen (five goals, 19 points — all of which came at even strength) and Lundell (six goals, 18 points) were the undisputed best third line of the post-season. The trio of Adam Lowry, Mason Appleton and Nino Niederreiter were definitely in the conversation for a good chunk of the regular season before things tailed off on the offensive side. The future of Appleton, a pending UFA, is up in the air but the Jets already prioritize the importance of having a third line that delivers in all three zones. The Panthers got at least one point from 21 of the 22 skaters that appeared in the playoffs, while 11 of them were in double digits — and six of those had between 20 and 23 points. The Jets had plenty of depth scoring during the regular season, but could have used a bit more during the playoffs. Depth also applies to defence, where former Jets Nate Schmidt (three goals, 11 points in 23 games) and Dmitry Kulikov made up a solid third pairing. The Jets had 10 different D-men suit up during the regular season and eight in the playoffs, so they know the value of having capable blue-liners on call. Securing additional depth up front and on the back end will be a priority for the Jets. In any other playoff, Bobrovsky could have been a runaway winner for the Conn Smythe. Although he's only concerned with the bigger silver trophy, Bobrovsky now has two Stanley Cups to go along with his two Vezinas (2012-13, 2016-17). As for growing into the goalie you want between the pipes when the lights are shining brightest, Bobrovsky wasn't an overnight sensation — even with his flashy resumé. NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS Seeing what Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has done into his mid-30s is another example that the development path isn't always linear. NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS Seeing what Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has done into his mid-30s is another example that the development path isn't always linear. During his first six trips to the playoffs when he made at least one start, Bobrovsky had only one outstanding showing and that was in 2019, when the Columbus Blue Jackets pulled off one of the greatest upsets in NHL history, sweeping the Lightning after they had won the Presidents' Trophy. Bobrovsky and his teammates bowed out in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round, but he finished with a save percentage of .925 and a goals-against average of 2.41 in his 10 starts that spring. In 2021, Bobrovsky lost the starting job down the stretch to Alex Lyon but regained his form and helped spark the comeback against the Bruins before leading the team to the Cup final before losing to the Vegas Golden Knights. Bobrovsky has been tremendous the past two springs, earning each of the 32 wins required to get to the top of the mountain. So, while there has been plenty of chatter about Hart Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck needing to elevate his game in the playoffs, seeing what Bobrovsky has done into his mid-30s is another example that the development path isn't always linear. It's up to Hellebuyck to deliver, but to suggest he can't reach that level because he hasn't by the age of 32 is simply a bad take. One of the narratives out there is that winning the Presidents' Trophy doesn't matter and that's just not true. It's been a lengthy dry spell since the Chicago Blackhawks finished first overall before winning their second of three Stanley Cups in 2013, there's no doubt about that. And while it's accurate that regular-season success doesn't necessarily translate to playoff results, the Panthers showed recently that it's part of the process of learning what it takes. Florida was first overall in 2022, then refined the way they played after former Jets head coach Paul Maurice took over behind the bench. A coaching change isn't always required either, since the Lightning were first overall in 2019 before winning consecutive Cups under Jon Cooper in 2020 and 2021. Jared Bednar guided the Avalanche to the Presidents' Trophy in 2021 and they won it all in 2021. Going back a bit further, the Washington Capitals finished first overall in 2016 and 2017 before capturing the Cup in 2018. The Jets are in the process of becoming more playoff ready and allowing the fewest goals in the NHL during the regular season is an important part of that. Strides have been taken in terms of play without the puck, but while Jets head coach Scott Arniel can find plenty of examples when it comes to growth, the Panthers commitment level is unmatched right now. They boast the perfect combination of skill and will and can also make life difficult on their opponent through physical play. The Jets are on the right path and the template for success has been augmented and improved, but the next steps forward that are required are big ones. X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld Ken WiebeReporter Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken. Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
