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Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Flutter announces launch of offering of Additional Senior Secured Notes due 2031
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION,DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO DO SO DUBLIN and TORONTO, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Flutter Entertainment plc ('Flutter') (NYSE:FLUT; LSE:FLTR), today announced the launch of an offering (the 'Offering') of USD-denominated senior secured notes due 2031, EUR-denominated senior secured notes due 2031 and GBP-denominated senior secured notes due 2031 (collectively, the 'Notes') by its subsidiary Flutter Treasury DAC (the 'Issuer'). The Notes will constitute a further issuance of the Issuer's 5.875% senior secured notes due 2031, 4.000% senior secured notes due 2031 and 6.125% senior secured notes due 2031 that were each issued on June 4, 2025. An application will be made for the Notes to be admitted to trading on The International Stock Exchange. On July 21, 2025, Flutter also launched a process to raise incremental debt under its existing U.S. dollar-denominated term loan B facility (the 'Fourth Incremental TLB Facility'). Flutter intends to raise $1,755 million of Notes and Fourth Incremental TLB Facility. The proceeds from the Offering and the Fourth Incremental TLB Facility are expected to be utilized to fund the purchase price for the acquisition of the outstanding 5% minority interest in FanDuel and the extension of our long-term strategic partnership with Boyd Interactive Gaming Holdings, L.L.C.. The Issuer expects to utilize cash on balance sheet to pay certain costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the foregoing transactions. About Flutter Entertainment plc Flutter is the world's leading online sports betting and iGaming operator, with a market leading position in the US and across the world. Our ambition is to leverage our significant scale and our challenger mindset to change our industry for the better. By Changing the Game, we believe we can deliver long-term growth while promoting a positive, sustainable future for all our stakeholders. We are well-placed to do so through the distinctive, global competitive advantages of the Flutter Edge, which gives our brands access to group-wide benefits to stay ahead of the competition, as well as our clear vision for sustainability through our Positive Impact Plan. Flutter operates a diverse portfolio of leading online sports betting and iGaming brands including FanDuel, Sky Betting & Gaming, Sportsbet, PokerStars, Paddy Power, Sisal, Snai, tombola, Betfair, MaxBet, Junglee Games, Adjarabet and Betnacional. To learn more about Flutter, please visit our website at EnquiriesInvestor Relations: Relations: corporatecomms@ Cautionary Statement The Notes will be offered only to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A and to non-U.S. persons outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 'Securities Act'), subject to prevailing market and other conditions. There is no assurance that the offering will be completed or, if completed, as to the terms on which it is completed. This press release is not an offer to sell the Notes in the United States or in any other jurisdiction and is issued pursuant to Rule 135c under the Securities Act of 1933. The Notes to be offered have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in the United States or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons, as such term is defined in Regulation S of the Securities Act, absent registration or unless pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any other applicable securities laws. If any public offering of the Notes is made in the United States, it will be by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from the Issuer that will contain detailed information about the Issuer, Flutter and management, as well as financial statements. No public offering of the Notes will be made in the United States in connection with the above-mentioned transaction. This press release has been prepared on the basis that any offer of the Notes in any member state of the European Economic Area ('EEA') will be made pursuant to an exemption under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended (the 'Prospectus Regulation') from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of notes. This press release has been prepared on the basis that any offer of the Notes in the United Kingdom will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation, as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the 'UK Prospectus Regulation') and the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of notes. The Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, 'MiFID II'); (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (as amended), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II, or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Regulation. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the 'PRIIPs Regulation') for offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation. This press release does not constitute and shall not, in any circumstances, constitute an offering to retail investors. The offer and sale of the Notes in any member state of the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of notes. The preliminary offering memorandum produced for the offering of the Notes is not a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation. This press release does not constitute an offer of securities to the public in the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom, this press release is being distributed only to, and is directed only at persons who are 'qualified investors' (as defined in the UK Prospectus Regulation) who are (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the 'Order'), (ii) high net worth entities falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, or (iii) persons to whom it would otherwise be lawful to distribute it, all such persons together being referred to as 'Relevant Persons.' In the United Kingdom, the preliminary offering memorandum produced for the offering of the Notes and this press release are being distributed only to and directed only at Relevant Persons and must not be acted on or relied upon by persons who are not Relevant Persons. In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. In the United Kingdom, the Notes are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such Notes will be engaged in only with, Relevant Persons, as the preliminary offering memorandum produced for the offering of the Notes and its contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by any recipients to any other person. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on the preliminary offering memorandum produced for the offering of the Notes or this press release or its contents. The Notes described in the preliminary offering memorandum are not being offered to the public in the United Kingdom. MiFID II professionals / ECPs-only / No PRIIPs KID – Manufacturer target market (MIFID II product governance) is eligible counterparties and professional clients only (all distribution channels). No PRIIPs key information document (KID) has been prepared as not available to retail investors in the EEA or the United Kingdom. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may include forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology, including the terms 'outlook,' 'believe(s),'expect(s),' 'potential,' 'continue(s),' 'may,' 'will,' 'should,' 'could,' 'would,' 'seek(s),' 'predict(s),' 'intend(s),' 'trends,' 'plan(s),' 'estimate(s),' 'anticipates,' 'projection,' 'goal,' 'target,' 'aspire,' 'will likely result' and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative versions of such words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts and include statements regarding Flutter's or its affiliates' intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, Flutter's or its affiliates' results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the industries in which they operate. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that Flutter's or its affiliates' actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industries in which they operate may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. In addition, even if Flutter's or its affiliates' results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industries in which they operate are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@ or visit
Newsweek
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
FanDuel Promo Code: Claim Bet $5, Win $150 MLB, WNBA Bonus This Week
The FanDuel promo code offer allows new users to claim a bet $5, win $150 bonus on MLB games if their first wager wins this week. The FanDuel promo code offer allows new users to claim a bet $5, win $150 bonus on MLB games if their first wager wins this week. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Register with the current FanDuel promo code offer to win bonus bets for the week. Sign up through the links below to activate this welcome offer and make your first wager on any MLB matchup, including a key showdown between the suddenly-slumping Red Sox and first-place Phillies. A winning $5 bet with this FanDuel promo code offer will release a $150 bonus. The odds don't matter, meaning you can browse through different hitting and pitching props to find a likely outcome. For example, you can take the moneyline for a heavy favorite or a top player to get a hit. MLB Matchups For This FanDuel Promo Code Offer There are plenty of MLB games to choose from on Tuesday night. Find odds for the Orioles vs. Guardians, Tigers vs. Pirates, Red Sox vs. Phillies, Yankees vs. Blue Jays, Angels vs. Mets, Giants vs. Braves, Astros vs. Diamondbacks, Brewers vs. Mariners and Twins vs. Dodgers. It's the second day of FD's "5 Days of Dingers" offer, so you can apply a 50 percent profit boost on any player to hit a home run. Below are some of the odds for the best sluggers in MLB to go long on Tuesday: Riley Greene: +450 Jose Ramirez: +320 James Wood: +400 Kyle Schwarber: +235 Aaron Judge: +200 Giancarlo Stanton: +230 Juan Soto: +265 Seiya Suzuki: +330 Eugenio Suarez: +285 Cal Raleigh: +285 Shohei Ohtani: +176 FanDuel also gives customers the chance to get a free month of by placing another $5 bet. Stream out-of-market games and easily make live bets on the app. Current Odds For MLB Divisions, Awards Get in your futures bets during the start of the second half. Right now, you can bet on any of the following teams to win their division: AL East: Yankees (-110), Blue Jays (+130), Red Sox (+1100), Rays (+1300) AL West: Astros (-330), Mariners (+310), Rangers (+1500), Angels (+8500) NL East: Phillies (-180), Mets (+125), Braves (+13000) NL Central: Cubs (-220), Brewers (+170), Cardinals (+5000), Reds (+6500) There aren't odds for the NL West, even though the Dodgers are just 3.5 games ahead of the Padres. You also won't find options for the AL Central since the Tigers have a comfortable lead. Judge is the heavy favorite to win the American League MVP (-650), while Ohtani has the best odds in the National League (-1450). There are other odds for the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year. FanDuel Promo Code: Guide To Win $150 Bonus New customers can take the following steps to win bonus bets for baseball, basketball, golf and other sports this week. Follow the links on this page to activate the best FanDuel promo code offer. Enter your full name, email address, date of birth and other basic info to confirm your identity. Make a deposit of $5 or more with an accepted payment method, like a debit card, Venmo or PayPal. Place a $5 bet on the game of your choice. A winning bet will release the $150 bonus. It can be split up for several games over the next seven days. 21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
Boston Globe
20 hours ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Is Massachusetts about to legalize online casinos on your smartphone?
So who's putting this on the fast track? It's unclear who, but it will need get through House and Senate leadership. A spokesperson for Advertisement For those already in the gambling business, the stakes are high, and the politics of it all have made for strange bedfellows. On one side is homegrown sports betting behemoth DraftKings and arch rival FanDuel, which support the bills and stand to benefit by providing the digital platforms that power these games. Joining their camp: MGM Resorts International, which operates a casino in Springfield and online gaming platform BetMGM. Advertisement A DraftKings employee in the lobby of their Back Bay offices. Lane Turner/Globe Staff On the other side is Encore Boston Harbor, the Everett casino operated by Wynn Resorts, and UNITE HERE Local 26, the politically influential hospitality union with many members who work at Encore; they oppose the bills, saying online gaming would cannibalize the brick-and-mortar casino business and reduce jobs in the industry. And then there are those who are wary for fear it will create more problem gamblers by making it even easier to bet on your phone. Supporters and opponents of online casinos squared off during a DraftKings and FanDuel argued that online casinos should be legalized because there's already a robust illegal market, so why not regulate and tax it? According to the mostly on websites based outside the United States. It's the same argument that's been made to legalize sports betting in many states, including Massachusetts, ever since the Supreme Court struck down a federal ban in 2018. Since sports betting began in Massachusetts in early 2023, it has flourished here with billions of dollars wagered, generating more than $300 million in taxes and assessments, according to the Advertisement Type 'online casino in Massachusetts,' and you quickly realize how we're all one Google search away from trying our luck. Seven states, including Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Jersey, have legalized internet casino gaming, and proponents estimate that if Massachusetts levied a 20 percent tax, the state could generate $230 million to $275 million a year in new revenue. (That's the same tax rate as online-only sports betting, while land-based resort casinos are assessed at 25 percent.) And with state lawmakers facing tough budget decisions this year, David Prestwood, a government affairs manager at DraftKings, knew exactly what to tell the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. 'This money may be especially critical for Massachusetts in the face of anticipated federal funding cuts and reductions in state and local aid,' he said at last month's hearing. Online casinos may seem no different than sports betting, but their appeal runs broader and deeper than placing a bet on a baseball game. And internet gambling is far different than going to a brick-and-mortar casino, which requires getting there and interacting with staff. Online, you can gamble in your pajamas. 'There's all these friction points where the player has the chance to think twice with about placing the next bet,' said Mark Stewart, a board member of the Advertisement Stewart, who is general counsel of The Cordish Companies, a Baltimore real estate and casino developer, testified virtually at the hearing, while Encore Boston Harbor president Jenny Holaday provided written testimony opposing online gaming and warned how it could result in a 'dramatic reduction in the associated taxes that Encore pays to the Commonwealth,' a sum that has totaled nearly $1 billion since the casino opened in 2019. The owner of Encore Casino in Everett is pushing to stop a bill on Beacon Hill that would broadly legalize online gambling on slots and poker games. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff Encore employs about 3,300 workers, about a third of whom are part of Local 26. A union representative also testified against the bills, citing an independent research analysis funded by the (A It's shaping up as a test of who has more clout on Beacon Hill — Encore and its coalition of boots-on-the-ground supporters in the unions and Everett, or tech companies that have deep pockets. Brick-and-mortar casinos could get in on the game, too. The legislation sets aside licenses for the state's existing casino operators, along with four licenses for internet gaming platforms. Along with slots, they'd allow poker, blackjack, craps, and even games with a live dealer. But what about the I can't imagine state Treasurer and Lottery chair, Deb Goldberg, being happy about online casinos, which could eat into lottery profits. The lottery in fiscal 2024 netted nearly Advertisement 'If online gaming expands, we must ensure the Lottery is supported and stays competitive,' Goldberg said in a statement. 'Every dollar spent on private platforms could mean less for our cities and towns and early childhood education.' Then there are concerns about addiction, with calls to the surging since sports betting was legalized. Lia Nower, director of the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University said what drives up the risk of problem gambling is giving people more options. 'There's a cumulative effect,' she said. 'The more things that you gamble on, the more often you gamble and the more venues in which you gamble, the higher your risk.' In this digital era, online casinos may feel inevitable, yet internet gambling is so new we don't really know how addictive it could be, especially among young bettors. Remember how we initially thought social media was just fun and games? Critics of online gaming say it reduces barriers to problem gambling, compared with going to a brick-and-mortar casino. Steve Helber/Associated Press Yet the pressure will be intense from a gaming industry that's keen to keep expanding online. Boston-based Why? Just follow the money, explains Nower. 'It's the cash cow for the industry,' she said. State Senator Paul Feeney — who is sponsoring the online casino legislation with state Representative Daniel Cahill — said lawmakers are well aware the need to carefully weigh all the costs and benefits, in particular the investments made by land-based casinos which he described as 'sacrosanct.' Advertisement Yet there's also an urgency with the state facing budget pressures. 'I wouldn't say that anything is on a fast track,' said Feeney. 'There's a renewed interest in looking at how we can maximize tax revenue without broad-based tax increases on residents.' We tend to give the Legislature a hard time for moving too slowly, but this time we shouldn't. At the very least, the state should conduct its own independent analysis, rather than relying on industry-funded studies to weigh the impact on existing land-based casinos and the lottery, and whether it would create a new class of problem gamblers. Online gaming is too big of a gamble to not get this right. Shirley Leung is a Business columnist. She can be reached at
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Which NHL broadcasts are the best? 2025 broadcast rankings, rated by fans
The recent shocking news that the St. Louis Blues and FanDuel Sports Network are parting ways with legendary play-by-play caller John Kelly was just the latest reminder of how dramatically the NHL's local broadcast landscape has shifted over the last few years. Compared to 2022, 16 of the league's 32 fan bases have either already seen a different play-by-play announcer or color analyst in the booth or will have a different broadcast tandem beginning in the 2025-26 season. Advertisement We're in an era of transition, and that means it's as important as ever to take stock of how local fans view their broadcast team with our annual broadcast rankings survey. We ask fans to rate their favorite teams' broadcasts on a scale from 1 to 5 and invite them to rate as many other local broadcasts as they wish. We then used your grades and input to rank the regional broadcasts of all 32 NHL teams. In terms of our methodology, we average the results of the survey to provide each broadcast with a local and national score out of 5. Those two scores are then averaged into a composite score, which is used to determine how each team is ranked in this story. This isn't a scientific exercise, especially as some teams and fan bases are more represented than others. The results, however, still provide us with a fascinating snapshot of how fan bases across the NHL view, connect with and rate those calling hockey games. The Broadcast: NESN carries Bruins games, with color analyst Andy Brickley and new play-by-play announcer Judd Sirott. Studio analysts include Billy Jaffe, Barry Pederson and Andrew Raycroft. Local score: 3.68 (30th) National score: 2.21 (32nd) Last season rank: 32 The results: The first year without Jack Edwards on the play-by-play mic since 2004 drew mixed responses from our surveyees. Some enjoyed a fresh perspective while others missed Edwards' unique style and passion for calling Bruins games. Respondents praised Brickley for making the broadcasts feel really local, although a tough season on the ice tested viewers' patience. National viewers remain polarized on the broadcast. 'Judd Sirott does a nice job and is a welcome contrast to Jack Edwards. Tough season for him to start on TV; just needs a bit of time to gel more with Andy Brickley.' Advertisement 'Love him or hate him, Jack kept things interesting. Now it's just another broadcast.' The Broadcast: SportsNet Pittsburgh carries Penguins games, with Josh Getzoff doing play-by-play and Phil Bourque, Colby Armstrong and Mike Rupp rotating on color. Local score: 3.47 (31st) National score: 2.64 (30th) Last season rank: 28 The results: The broadcast received relatively poor marks again in the second season after Steve Mears and Bob Errey were removed from the booth. Fans were critical of having rotating color analysts, the intermission panels and a lack of criticism for a team that finished well out of the playoffs again. 'Getzoff is a good play-by-play guy, and I like the minimalist graphics. Rotation between the analysts hasn't allowed Getzoff to get a good rapport with any of them.' 'The crew keeps the game fresh and interesting, which, a lot of nights this past season, was not easy.' 'Can be very dry at times. Would like more enthusiasm when something big happens. Also tough when you had Mike Lange for so long.' The Broadcast: Sportsnet carried 14 Maple Leafs games regionally this season, with Chris Cuthbert doing play-by-play and Craig Simpson doing color. TSN carried 26 Leafs games regionally with Gord Miller doing play-by-play and Mike Johnson doing color. The remainder of the games were broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and Amazon Prime. Local score: 3.18 (32nd) National score: 3.01 (13th) Last season rank: 29 The results: The unique and wide split between the local and national ratings shows just how differently many Leafs fans view their broadcast compared with the wider perspective. Despite often getting the most experienced broadcast teams in the country, a huge percentage of Toronto fans lamented the fact that they don't have a 'home' broadcast on television. They also noted a strong preference for the regional TSN broadcasts over games shown elsewhere. Advertisement 'We're the only team in the NHL whose home broadcast is limited to the radio only. I understand that the national broadcasts in Canada need to or want to appear impartial due to the national factor, but often the coverage seems to slant the other way.' 'Watching broadcasts on Amazon and TNT this year showed me how far Sportsnet lagged behind in production quality as well, especially in the audio department.' The Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network carries Predators games, with Willy Daunic on play-by-play and Chris Mason doing color. Hal Gill fills in for select games on color. Local score: 4.14 (25th) National score: 2.61 (31st) Last season rank: 17 The results: After a one-time surge to the middle of the pack, Nashville has fallen back near the bottom of the broadcast rankings, where it's typically resided most years. The on-ice product obviously hurt — the Predators went from being a scrappy, likable, underdog team that made the playoffs, to a team that couldn't score, shockingly finished 30th in the league standings, and had several underperforming players on big-ticket contracts. Those are very difficult circumstances to operate under. Fans noted that Daunic's play-by-play work has steadily improved over the years, but there are still some detractors. 'I still find Willy to be the weak link,' said one Preds fan. 'He is still trying to come up with catchphrases and too often mispronounces names. Chris Mason, on the other hand, is a solid color man and a very easy listen.' A few respondents also noted that the Predators' broadcast is too biased, although the number of those complaints has toned down compared to previous years. The Broadcast: MSG Western New York carries Sabres broadcasts, with Dan Dunleavy on play-by-play and former players Rob Ray and Martin Biron on color and analysis. Advertisement Local score: 4.00 (28th) National score: 2.83 (22nd) Last season rank: 22 The results: There were big changes behind the scenes here recently, as a report from the Buffalo News reveals a longtime producer was moved out after the broadcast was believed to be 'too critical' of a team that missed the playoffs for a fourteenth consecutive season. Sabres fans, in general, disagree with that assessment and believe the broadcasters should be more critical, if anything, of their struggling club. They did, however, praise Dunleavy's professionalism and Ray's ability to take a puck to the face and continue the broadcast. 'Rick Jeanneret will just never be topped, so it's hard to rate anyone, and it's probably unfair to grade announcers immediately following him.' 'Great unbiased analysis of the game, not just the home team. Rob Ray and Dan Dunleavy are hockey guys, sharing points of the game. They do not take sides.' 'Rob Ray is a gem. Takes pucks to the face, drops F-bomb and still keeps working.' The Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network North carries Wild games, with Anthony LaPanta on play-by-play. Wes Walz, Ryan Carter and Lou Nanne rotate on color. Local score: 3.91 (29th) National score: 2.99 (14th) Last season rank: 25 The results: Minnesota's poor ranking is the culmination of a few issues. One of them is FanDuel Sports Network's production and presentation. Some fans reported technical glitches related to lagging and audio sync, while others lamented the broadcast's look. 'The graphics and studio setup for Minnesota is awful,' said a Wild fan. 'Garishly green and red. When I see Sportsnet or the feed for the Canadian market local broadcasts, it's such a cleaner look.' Anthony LaPanta drew mostly positive feedback on play-by-play — though some fans noted that he goes off on too many tangents where he's telling stories or citing obscure stats — but the rotating nature of the color analyst gig didn't go over well. There were a lot of complaints about Walz specifically, who fans prefer in a studio analyst role. Advertisement 'It would be nice if they would just keep Ryan Carter in the booth as the color analyst and Wes Walz in the studio (as an analyst),' said one fan. The Broadcast: Chicago Sports Network carries Blackhawks games with Rick Ball doing play-by-play and Darren Pang doing color. Local score: 4.08 (27th) National score: 2.85 (20th) Last season rank: 31 The results: The Blackhawks' broadcast underwent seismic changes this season, both in the booth and distribution-wise. Let's start with the big win: Rick Ball's debut season as the play-by-play announcer drew rave reviews across the board. 'Rick Ball is a massive upgrade over (Chris) Vosters, his presence also made Pang better, and their chemistry is miles better than between Pang and Vosters,' wrote one Blackhawks fan. Unfortunately, major broadcast accessibility issues overshadowed the upgraded commentary duo. The Blackhawks transitioned from NBC to their own Chicago Sports Network, which had carriage issues, most notably with Comcast, the largest cable carrier in Chicago. As a result, Blackhawks viewership plummeted by 78 percent this season 'The Blackhawks' broadcast is supposedly available over the air, but my TV doesn't pick it up, even after I bought an antenna,' said one fan. 'Should I pay $20/month to watch a terrible team on a terrible streaming app? No thanks.' CHSN finally inked a recent deal with Comcast, but it requires subscribing to Comcast's highest tier TV package, which requires spending an extra $20 per month anyway. The accessibility annoyances will likely continue looming large over a talented, experienced broadcast team. The Broadcast: MSG Sportsnet carries Devils broadcasts, with Bill Spaulding handling play-by-play, Ken Daneyko on color commentary and Bryce Salvador at rinkside during Devils home games. Advertisement Local score: 4.27 (24th) National score: 2.78 (28th) Last season rank: 24 The results: Despite the low ranking, Devils fans almost universally had praise for Spaulding's play-by-play, which is part of why there was a shock that he is being replaced next season. Respondents were more mixed on the broadcast's analysts and commentary, including being split over switching out Erika Wachter with Rachel Herzog in the studio. 'We were very spoiled by years of Doc Emrick (and then Steve Cangialosi), but Bill Spaulding has carved a nice space for himself and doesn't over-talk. Ken Daneyko can be a bit of a homer, but he tries to keep it fair and provides good history. Love to hear when Daneyko and Bryce Salvador debate strategy and break down what went right or wrong.' 'Good combination of analytical sports knowledge from Bill Spaulding alongside playing experience from Ken Daneyko brings a great mix of analysis during a game.' The Broadcast: Victory+ carries Ducks games, with John Ahlers doing play-by-play and Brian Hayward doing color. Local score: 4.39 (22nd) National score: 2.66 (29th) Last season rank: 23 The results: Anaheim's broadcast shot up eight spots last season and has largely maintained those gains this year. The Ducks' broadcast shifted away from Bally to Victory+, where regional fans could stream games for free. That's been a nice, well-received touch. In the booth, there are still some gripes. Hayward is a bit polarizing among fans and the broadcast's lack of innovation when it comes to incorporating analytics gives the show a bit of an outdated feel. Anaheim's broadcast has always ranked near the bottom nationally, but among local fans, it's more favorably regarded as a solid, albeit unspectacular product. 'John Ahlers and Brian Haywood work well together, even though Ahlers gets players mixed up and Haywood is a homer,' said one respondent. 'The Ducks move to Victory+ is much better than when they were on Bally or Fox Sports SW.' Advertisement The Broadcast: Sportsnet carries Flames games, with Jon Abbott doing play-by-play and Kelly Hrudey doing color. Greg Millen filled in for select games on color. Local score: 4.12 (26th) National score: 2.93 (17th) Last season rank: 16 The results: The departure of Rick Ball, an adored 10-year veteran on the Flames broadcast, to Chicago left a massive hole in the play-by-play chair. One thing we've learned from years of doing this survey is that it's nearly impossible for a newcomer to instantly win over the hearts of fans, especially when stepping into the shoes of a revered veteran. It takes time for a new voice to build chemistry, rapport and weight in a local market. With that in mind, Calgary's seven-spot drop-off compared to last year's ranking is more a reflection of how much fans loved Ball than it is an indictment of his replacement, Jon Abbott. 'I was very disappointed when Rick Ball left last summer, but pleasantly surprised with how good his replacement, Jon Abbott, was this past season,' said one Flames fan. Kelly Hrudey is well-liked by most fans. The late Greg Millen, who occasionally filled in on color, will be missed. The Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network South carries Hurricanes games, with Mike Maniscalco on play-by-play and Tripp Tracy on color. Local score: 4.38 (23rd) National score: 2.88 (19th) Last season rank: 18 The results: It's fair to say that a lot of Caniacs still miss John Forslund, who left for Seattle in 2021 after a contract dispute. Generally speaking, however, respondents to our survey felt that Maniscalco was doing a solid job and growing on them over time. Tracy, meanwhile, is more polarizing. 'Every time I start to tire of my local Mike and Tripp, I watch another team's broadcast, or national broadcast, and realize how good they are.' Advertisement 'Mike Maniscalco took some time to settle in after replacing the legendary John Forslund, but he has truly made the booth his own and his chemistry with Tripp is excellent.' 'Maniscalco has developed into a really good play-by-play guy. Tripp is quirky and that can be endearing at times and annoying at others. But there's no denying he knows hockey.' 'I still miss Forslund. I like Mike and I think he has improved significantly over the last couple years, but Tripp is one of the most uninformed broadcasters in the league. Every single game, there is something just plain wrong.' The Broadcast: The FanDuel Sports Network broadcast team in Columbus features play-by-play announcer Steve Mears and color analyst Jody Shelley. Local score: 4.49 (19th) National score: 2.84 (21st) Last season rank: 30 The results: The Blue Jackets shot up our rankings a little in the first season without local legend Jeff Rimer, who had been in the Columbus play-by-play chair for 20 years and called more than 2,000 NHL games before retiring. Mears, who was let go in Pittsburgh two years ago, has strong support in Columbus and is in part buoyed by the fact that he is paired with Shelley, the former CBJ enforcer who has become one of the stronger color analysts in the league. 'Jody Shelley remains one of the best color/between-the-benches commentators in the business. Steve Mears had a great first year calling Blue Jackets games; he'll only get stronger in the years to come.' 'Jody Shelley is incredibly insightful and articulate. He never talks down to the audience, but also doesn't assume that the fan knows all of the acronyms and jargon. He puts the color in the analysis! (There's a reason he does national broadcasts on Mondays.) His pregame preparation is incredible.' The Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network West carries Kings games, with Nick Nickson on play-by-play and Jim Fox doing color. Josh Schaefer filled in for select games on play-by-play. Daryl Evans is an additional on-air personality from ice level. Blake Bolden filled in as the ice-side analyst on occasion. Advertisement Local score: 4.47 (20th) National score: 2.88 (18th) Last season rank: 15 The results: L.A. has seen significant turnover in the play-by-play chair following the legendary Bob Miller's retirement in 2017. Alex Faust was tabbed as the first successor and was well-rated by fans, but his contract wasn't renewed in 2023. The Kings merged their TV and radio broadcasts, with longtime radio announcer Nickson stepping up to handle TV duties in 2023-24. Nickson retired at the end of this past season after 44 years of calling Kings games, meaning there will be another new full-time TV voice in the fall. Through these changes, L.A.'s broadcast has consistently ranked middle of the pack in our rankings and this year is no different. Nickson and Fox both drew a ton of praise from local fans. Fox, in particular, has long been popular for his special ability to provide genuinely insightful analysis on the fly in the color chair and for maintaining a relatively objective tone. 'Jim Fox is one of the best analysts in the NHL,' said one Kings fan. 'He calls it like he sees it and provides good descriptions of what's missing and what's good.' 'Fox is the best at breaking down how a play developed, or a significant action that influenced a goal or defensive effort,' added another respondent. The Broadcast: Altitude carries Avalanche games, with Marc Moser on play-by-play and Mark Rycroft on color. John-Michael Liles was a second analyst for home games later in the season. Local score: 4.73 (13th) National score: 2.76 (26th) Last season rank: 27 The results: There's a massive gulf between how the Avalanche's broadcast scored locally (13th) and nationally (26th). Tons of fans outside of Colorado voiced complaints about how excessively biased they believe the product is. Advertisement 'Every local broadcast has bias, but they take it to a new level,' wrote one out-of-market fan. 'Every good play by the other team is puck luck while every good play by the Avs is a historic achievement.' Among local fans, however, the broadcast skyrocketed from 27th to 13th this year. Avs fans are the first to acknowledge that their broadcasters are homers, but they believe it's done in a tasteful enough manner, and share a deep appreciation for the crew's energy, light-hearted humor and rich understanding of the club's history. 'At first we did not love Mark Rycroft, but man has he grown on my dad and I,' wrote one fan. 'A totally goofy guy that just gets so excited about the game in front of him. Eccentric goofball color guy is a definite plus and Marc Moser is as good as they come, play-by-play wise.' The Broadcast: NBC Sports Philadelphia carries Flyers games with Jim Jackson on play-by-play and Brian Boucher as the primary color commentator. Local score: 4.69 (15th) National score: 2.82 (23rd) Last season rank: 14 The results: The seismic loss of Keith Jones — who made the big leap from color analyst to team president two years ago — could have derailed the broadcast, but former Flyers netminder Boucher drew plenty of praise for his continued development into a trusted voice. And Jackson remains beloved in Philadelphia. The only minor complaints we received about the broadcast are when Boucher isn't available at times due to his commitments to national games. 'Jim Jackson is elite. Slightly homer-ish but enough national knowledge to be taken seriously. Losing Keith Jones was huge, but Boucher has really improved.' 'JJ and Boosh have great chemistry and can make watching even a struggling rebuilding team fun.' 'Jim Jackson has been elite for a long time now. It warms my heart that he gets some early national playoff games, but he still doesn't get the respect he deserves. And Brian Boucher has been proven on a national scale for a long time, but he just keeps shining … Flyers fans are very lucky with these two.' Advertisement The Broadcast: TSN carries Senators broadcasts regionally. Gord Miller is the primary play-by-play broadcaster, with Kenzie Lalonde and Matt Cullen filling in for select games. Jamie (Noodles) McLennan is the primary color commentator, with Mike Johnson rotating in for select games. Local score: 4.56 (17th) National score: 2.95 (16th) Last season rank: 20 The results: Ottawa is another Canadian team with its broadcasts split between different networks, as its national games are largely on Sportsnet, with different broadcast teams. While that arrangement seemed to impact the Senators' score, the 50-odd regional games carried by TSN received almost universal praise, despite at times having different play-by-play callers and analysts night to night. 'Noodles is great on color. Gord Miller is a national treasure and Kenzie Lalonde was a nice change when Gord wasn't available.' 'Gord Miller could be the top play-by-play guy at any network he wants, so the fact that he's doing Senators regional games is a huge blessing. Kenzie Lalonde is great filling in and would like to hear more of Matt Cullen next year. Add in Jamie McLennan's love for the city of Ottawa or Mike Johnson's analysis, and it's the best broadcast in the NHL hands down.' The Broadcast: Scripps Sports carries Golden Knights games, with Dave Goucher on play-by-play and Shane Hnidy on color. Local score: 4.8 (8th) National score: 2.75 (27th) Last season rank: 9 The results: Vegas' broadcast crew, much like the team itself, was an instant hit, consistently scoring well during this exercise. However, as the years have passed, a widening gap has emerged between the broadcast scores locally and nationally. It's hard to glean why exactly the Golden Knights' broadcast scored so poorly outside of Nevada. Most national fans who left the lowest scores for Vegas either didn't add a written comment to explain their rating or were vague in their criticism. Truthfully, we wonder if Vegas' national score was deflated because of how many fans dislike the team itself. Advertisement Within Vegas, Goucher and Hnidy are revered. Ninety percent of Golden Knights fans gave the broadcast a perfect five out of five score. 'They're incredibly well informed, work well together and their banter keeps it entertaining,' said one fan. 'They're like family and there's no one I'd rather hear broadcast a VGK game than this broadcast team.' 'Feel like the broadcast quality went up a level after moving from AT&T to Scripps Sports a few years ago,' added another respondent. 'One of (the) best things they do is (meaningfully) talk about the opposition team and players during the broadcast.' The Broadcast: Scripps Sports carries Panthers games, with Steve Goldstein on play-by-play and Randy Moller on color. Local score: 4.77 (10th) National score: 2.78 (25th) Last season rank: 11 The results: The two-time defending champs are drawing more eyeballs from outside the market than ever as they continue to pile up wins, which affects their score somewhat here. Panthers fans, however, really love their eclectic broadcast team and only wish they could hear more of them during their long postseason runs when games get picked up by national carriers. 'Randy and Goldie are the best! So many phrases that can be quoted, especially Goldie's 'Let's go home, baby!' It's a shame we only get them for the first round in the playoffs.' 'Lots of passion and hilarious catchphrases. Goldstein and Moller do a fantastic job even if their bias shows. I'm sure other (Panthers) fans will rate them highly, and neutrals will have them lower.' Indeed, they did! The Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest carries Blues games, with John Kelly on play-by-play and Jamie Rivers on color. Local score: 4.56 (18th) National score: 3.05 (12th) Last season rank: 19 Advertisement The results: The Blues' elite former broadcast tandem of Kelly and Pang finished in the top five of these rankings in four consecutive years from 2020 to 2023. They had a special product going for Blues fans, but just two years later, both Pang, who left for a color gig with the Blackhawks for the 2023-24 season, and Kelly, who parted ways with the network in a surprise announcement earlier this month, are gone. Kelly, the Blues' TV play-by-play voice for 21 years, is universally adored. We conducted this broadcast survey well before the announcement of his departure, and as you'd expect, the reviews for Kelly were glowing from St. Louis fans. 'Kelly is a national treasure and turns any broadcast into an A+ team. Makes you put up with Bally/FanDuel's near-unforgivably bad graphics,' wrote one Blues fan. The Blues will simulcast their games starting next season, using radio play-by-play man Chris Kerber and analyst Joey Vitale as its voices for both television and radio. Kerber and Vitale are well-respected, but we'd expect the Blues' broadcast to fall dramatically in next year's rankings because of Kelly's legendary stature. The Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network Sun carries Lightning games, with Dave Randorf handling play-by-play and Brian Engblom serving as analyst. Local score: 4.71 (14th) National score: 2.96 (15th) Last season rank: 10 The results: In a bit of a contrast from their state rivals in South Florida, Lightning fans heaped praise on their duo for being largely neutral, while still drawing fans in with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable broadcast. A high-profile national broadcaster in Canada for decades, Randorf has quickly endeared himself to Tampa fans since taking the play-by-play job there four years ago. 'Dave in the booth and Brian between the boards are a fantastic team. They have a great rapport, provide in-depth analysis and aren't afraid to offer their criticisms of the team or the officiating. Dave had huge shoes to fill after long-time great Rick Peckham retired, but he has exceeded my expectations and calls a great game.' Advertisement 'They are awesome. Insightful, friendly. It's like listening to your hockey-savant friends.' The Broadcast: MSG Network carries Islanders games, with Brendan Burke on play-by-play, Butch Goring on color and Thomas Hickey and Cal Clutterbuck providing additional analysis. Local score: 4.87 (6th) National score: 2.81 (24th) Last season rank: 6 The results: Another market with a surprisingly large split between the local and national audiences, in part because Islanders fans are so incredibly high on Burke's work on the mic — to the point that they're worried about losing him to another team or national gig. Fans also offered high praise for Hickey and host Shannon Hogan's work on the broadcasts. 'Brendan Burke is far and away the best in the business. He is perfectly countered by Butch Goring, who has all the anecdotes and gives commentary like a regular athlete. Meanwhile, they have Thomas Hickey to break down the finer points for those of us who want more in-depth analysis.' 'Brendan Burke is excellent. Was worried MSG would move him over to the Rangers when Sam announced he was retiring. Glad that didn't happen.' The Broadcast: TSN carries Jets games with Dan Robertson doing play-by-play and Kevin Sawyer doing color. Local score: 4.61 (16th) National score: 3.18 (11th) Last season ranking: 21 The results: Winnipeg's broadcast climbed 10 spots this year for its highest ranking ever in this exercise. The Jets' broadcast has always scored well out of market — it ranked eighth-best nationally last season — but winning over local fans has been a challenge in the past. They've made massive strides in that area, with their local ranking jumping from 26th to 16th. Robertson, in his third season on Jets broadcasts, has developed into a star. Advertisement 'Dan Robertson has really come into his own,' said one fan. 'When he first started doing play-by-play, I found him a bit stiff and I missed Dennis Beyak. However, he seems much more comfortable now and has great chemistry with Kevin Sawyer.' 'Dan Robertson is outstanding. I imagine he's in line for more national games in the future,' added another fan. Kevin Sawyer, the lead color analyst, is a polarizing figure. He received a lot of criticism in years past for his old-school perspectives, but many Jets fans gave him praise for genuinely improving in recent times. 'It seems he's developed good relationships with the players/staff to the point where he can integrate conversations he's had with them in the past to give better context to who they are as players, which I quite appreciate,' said one respondent. The Broadcast: TSN carries Canadiens regional games in English with Bryan Mudryk on play-by-play for most games and with Frank Corrado as the primary color commentator and Mike Johnson and Craig Button rotating in. RDS carries Canadiens regional games in French with Pierre Houde on play-by-play and Marc Denis as color commentator. Local score: 4.46 (21st) National score: 3.34 (5th) Last season rank: 13 The results: Canadiens fans adore Houde and Denis, praising them as the best in the business. Houde was recognized with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame this past season, something many in the market lauded as well-deserved. Where Montrealers expressed frustration, however, is having their broadcasts split over multiple networks and not being able to settle in with one group for all of their games. Most feel the regional broadcasts are of higher quality than the national ones, which impacted the score here. 'I cannot picture a Habs game on RDS without Pierre Houde. He is the best we've ever had and no one will come close to him.' Advertisement 'Houde is the best color commentator in hockey — arguably in all of sports. RDS has an unbelievable team, and I wish we saw more of them. I also wish that unilingual anglophones could experience what French speakers do multiple nights a year.' The Broadcast: MSG Network carries Rangers games, with Sam Rosen handling primary play-by-play duties in his final season and Joe Micheletti serving as color commentator. Local score: 4.79 (11th) National score: 3.20 (9th) Last season rank: 5 The results: The only lament from Rangers fans is they're not getting more of Rosen, who at age 77 is finally leaving the booth after more than 40 years. Losing the longest tenured broadcaster in the league won't be easy, especially given that Micheletti is also retiring. Rosen leaves huge shoes for Kenny Albert to fill next season. 'Sam Rosen will always be iconic to not only Rangers fans but to fans of all teams and fans of all sports. Joe and JD were great additions to the team, but Sam not only set the standard, he also raised the bar for that standard.' 'I'm 31 years old and I have never heard anyone but Sam Rosen call a Rangers game. Next year — good or bad — will be a little surreal. Just sad we sent off a legend with a season like that (on the ice).' 'For as much as we love the Alberts, no one can replace a legend. We will miss you, Sam!' The Broadcast: Sportsnet carries Canucks games, with John Shorthouse on play-by-play and Dave Tomlinson on color. Ray Ferraro fills in for select games. Local score: 4.80 (9th) National score: 3.25 (7th) Last season rank: 4 The results: It's an impressive testament to the quality of Sportsnet's Canucks' broadcast that they've remained a fixture in the top 10 despite the departure of color commentator John Garrett, an affable, legendary figure in Vancouver, two years ago. Advertisement Shorthouse is the biggest star of the production, earning plaudits both locally and nationally. 'Shorthouse is one of the best (and most underutilized) broadcasters in the league,' wrote a Canucks fan. 'He always brings great energy and has great chemistry with both Ferraro and Tomlinson.' 'John Shorthouse is a living legend and one of the best play-by-play commentators ever,' said an out-of-market Flyers fan. Dave Tomlinson had the near-impossible task of filling Garrett's shoes two years ago. He's grown admirably as the primary color analyst. Many viewers added, however, that the games where Ray Ferraro, one of the best color analysts in the league, fills in are a special treat. Host Dan Murphy is widely adored by Canucks fans as well. The Broadcast: NBC Sports California carries Sharks games, with Randy Hahn on play-by-play and Drew Remenda primarily on color. Local score: 4.87 (5th) National score: 3.21 (8th) Last season rank: 12 The results: The veteran broadcast duo of Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda is still at the top of their game. They check every box local fans look for — deep knowledge and sharp, insightful observations, familiar banter and chemistry, and an ability to balance both palpable excitement for the team with fair criticism of their performance when it's warranted. 'The best compliment I can give Randy and Drew is that during the 2023-24 season, they were one of the main reasons I continued to tune in to Sharks hockey because the on-ice product certainly wasn't a reason to keep watching,' commented a Sharks fan. Hahn's eight-time Emmy Award-winning resume speaks for itself, and Remenda's ability to break down plays in a genuinely informative way that teaches fans has earned a lot of praise. 'Vibes are incredibly high in San Jose, despite the kind of seasons they've been having. I've really enjoyed tuning into their games,' complimented an out-of-market Utah Mammoth fan. Advertisement Several fans voiced their displeasure about the declining quality of the broadcast's pregame, postgame and intermission segments after the popular Brodie Brazil was replaced. However, Hahn and Remenda's heavy lifting — plus the improved, more entertaining on-ice product this season — did enough to elevate the broadcast five spots compared to last year. The Broadcast: Victory+ carries Stars games with Josh Bogorad on play-by-play and Daryl 'Razor' Reaugh on color. Local score: 4.95 (3rd) National score: 3.2 (10th) Last season rank: 3 The results: The Stars' broadcast is a perennial fixture near the top of these rankings. Reaugh is a one-of-a-kind superstar in the color chair with his exuberance, robust vocabulary, and exceptional knowledge of the game. 'He's the best in the business,' described one Stars fan. 'The incredible adjectives: lubricious, mortiferous, scrumptious, etc. Some are $10 dictionary words, some are made up, but he delivers them with such panache that they sound perfectly natural.' Bogorad is the perfect complement for Reaugh, with one respondent pointing out that he 'never gets enough credit for how great he is.' Dallas' crew also received a lot of compliments for its preparation and research on opposing teams. They always nail the pronunciation of opposing players and have fascinating stats and observations ready to go about the Stars' opponent. They're also fair and balanced, regularly complimenting the other team when they play well and being unafraid to call out the Stars when they're struggling. The Broadcast: Sportsnet carries Oilers games, with Jack Michaels on play-by-play and Louie DeBrusk on color. Local score: 4.77 (12th) National score: 3.39 (4th) Last season rank: 7 The results: Few broadcast teams have seen a glow-up as dramatic as the Oilers since the pandemic. Just look at how they've risen in year-over-year rankings since 2020: 26th, 16th, 17th, eighth, seventh and now fifth. Advertisement Michaels' hiring in 2021 has been the key catalyst behind this meteoric rise. He's arguably the most electric, high-energy play-by-play caller in the entire sport, with the rare ability to make a game in late November feel as important as Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. A small minority of fans find Michaels' delivery 'over the top,' but broadly speaking, his style is overwhelmingly popular, both locally and nationally. 'Ever since Jack Michaels moved over to the TV booth, Oilers games have been must-watch TV,' wrote one fan. 'Between his energetic calls and anecdotal references to other sports and current/historical events, Jack is an absolute pleasure to watch on TV.' DeBrusk's more measured tone is a nice contrast to Michaels' energy. He and Michaels have strong chemistry and rapport, and host Gene Principe, a beloved icon, steers the ship and ties the crew together perfectly. The Broadcast: Monumental Sports Network carries Capitals games, with Joe Beninati on play-by-play and Craig Laughlin handling color commentary. Local score: 4.89 (4th) National score: 3.31 (6th) Last season rank: 8 The results: Alex Ovechkin's chase of hockey's all-time goals record put the national spotlight on the Capitals this season, and that included highlighting the high-quality work of Washington's broadcast team multiple times, something fans singled out for praise. Beninati's more than 30 years behind the mic have made him a local institution, but the quality of his calls was also highlighted by many viewers in other markets. 'Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have been the announcers my entire life. It really wasn't until I started watching more national broadcasts that I realized just how good these guys are. Joe B. has so many phenomenal Ovechkin goal calls, and Laughlin has always been right there with him, providing a quieter but just as valuable complement.' 'The fact that ESPN and TNT used Beninati's call for (Ovechkin goal number) 895 proves he's better than anyone the national networks have on staff.' Long-time @Capitals announcer Joe Beninati called Alex Ovechkin's first NHL goal. All these years later, he called Alex Ovechkin's record-breaking goal. 🫡 Iconic. #Gr8ness — NHL (@NHL) April 6, 2025 The Broadcast: SEG Media carries Mammoth games, with Matt McConnell on play-by-play. Dominic Moore and Nick Olczyk rotate on color. Local score: 4.82 (7th) National score: 3.39 (3rd) Last season rank: N/A The results: Utah, similar to Vegas and Seattle in recent memory, has hit it out of the park with the first impression that its local broadcast has made in a new city. Advertisement Utah's broadcast drew rave reviews for achieving 'the impossible task of educating new fans without alienating avid hockey fans.' What stood out in reading the survey feedback for Utah is that the stellar marks for this broadcast are a complete team effort from top to bottom. The positive feedback and compliments weren't lopsidedly directed to just one person — all of McConnell, the longtime former Coyotes play-by-play caller who followed the team to Utah, color analysts Moore and Olczyk, rinkside reporter Sarah Merrifield and studio host Kim Becker received strong support. The production was top-notch too, with one respondent noting that they go 'the extra mile to bring in-arena elements into the studio and on air so fans at home get the same game day experience.' All of this seemed to impress fans outside of Utah, too, as their broadcast ranked third-best nationally. The Broadcast: Kraken Hockey Network carries Kraken games with John Forslund on play-by-play, Eddie Olczyk on color and J.T. Brown between the benches. Olczyk occasionally misses Kraken games while fulfilling his national broadcast commitments for TNT; Forslund and Brown form a two-man booth on those occasions. Local score: 4.95 (2nd) National score: 3.57 (2nd) Last season rank: 2 The results: When the love and adoration for your broadcast team comes pouring in from rival fans, you know you've struck gold. 'Kraken's team is amazing. Just a flawless broadcast from top to bottom,' said a Wild fan. 'Forslund is the premier play-by-play guy,' said a Stars fan. 'Love it when he gets national (playoff) assignments.' It's a special feat that the Kraken have never ranked lower than second place every year we've done these broadcast rankings. They strike the perfect balance between high-quality, informative discussion and colorful fun. Advertisement 'John Forslund is a national treasure,' said a local fan. 'Every starting faceoff, he says, 'Sit back and enjoy this one,' and those words actually cause me to sit back and enjoy the game. His banter in between plays is always interesting and never forced. Whatever he gets paid, it's not enough.' Olczyk continues to crush it as a cream-of-the-crop color analyst and Brown has continued his rise as an up-and-coming star, too. The Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit carries Red Wings games with Ken Daniels calling play-by-play and Mickey Redmond handling most games as the color analyst. Local score: 4.96 (1st) National score: 3.83 (1st) Last season rank: 1 The results: It's been a tough go for the Red Wings on the ice, and sometimes that can make life difficult for the broadcasters. No matter how many times they miss the playoffs in Detroit, however, fans still love this duo, who have been together nearly 30 years now. Redmond, 77, has had multiple serious health setbacks over the years — including lung cancer — but continues to offer one of the most entertaining perspectives of any broadcaster in the league. Fans praised this team's ability to offer insights into opponents and the league in general, as well as their encyclopedic knowledge of the Red Wings. 'Mickey Redmond and Ken Daniels are Detroit legends who have more chemistry than Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta in 'Grease.'' 'They provide great play-by-play calling and team/player insights. They have fun when they do their broadcasts. Ken Daniels does a great job of keeping the energy up regardless of who scores a goal.' 'Just give them the award now.' (Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; John McDonnell, Gerry Thomas, Jonathan Newton, Andy Devlin, Dave Reginek / Getty Images)
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FanDuel Promo Code: Claim $150 Signup Bonus For UFC 318, MLB Games
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