[Rumour] Ron Maclean to replace George Stromboulopoulos on HNIC

[GirlySports]

any business that caters to the old crowd is a business in trouble. I don't know how anyone under 40 can listen to Don Cherry.

[Buck Murdock]

Gary Bettman is fuming somewhere....Strombo wasn't the best but i welcome some new blood. Going back to Maclean seems like a desperate overreaction. Could they not steal James Duthie away from TSN?

[GirlySports]

I would have put Randorf into the studio. He did great on TSN for CFL and NHL in that role. Get him off of play by play

[jschick88]

David Shoalts ‏@dshoalts
OK, now that daughter's boyfriend was kind enough to leave me two beers ... source says the Strombo-MacLean decision was Scott Moore's.

David Shoalts ‏@dshoalts
Our @jembradshaw got an e-mail from Scott Moore saying the Strombo-MacLean move "is speculation. We won't comment on rumours."

David Shoalts ‏@dshoalts
The big signal that ch-ch-ch-changes were coming was Gord Cutler's firing as head of hockey production on eve of playoffs.

David Shoalts ‏@dshoalts
Gord Cutler ex-TSN guy, no fan of the CBC version of Hockey NIght. When he was gone, Ron and Don got more air time as well as Bob Cole.

David Shoalts ‏@dshoalts
Talked to a lot of Rogers people tonight, most said didn't know what's going on. But none were surprised Strombo on his way out.

David Shoalts ‏@dshoalts
In retrospect, most intriguing advice I got just before the playoffs from a Rogers guy after Cutler fired: keep an eye on Ron's air time.

David Shoalts ‏@dshoalts
So, some Rogers types are saying, people should look for a return to the more traditional style of hockey broadcasts on Rogers next season.

David Shoalts ‏@dshoalts
To be clear: even if MacLean switch blows up there will be Hometown Hockey next season. Was already renewed and Rogers big wigs love it.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Just say no to more Bob Cole at this point.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I love the jabs at the suits Strombo wore. We now know who's still rocking the garbage bag cuts at weddings and funerals.

There's a big difference between garbage bag cuts and this:



What am I a woman? Am I trying to create the illusion of an hourglass figure?

[Bootsy]

Good news, a step in the right direction now they just need to steal Cuthbert back for play by play.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I love the jabs at the suits Strombo wore. We now know who's still rocking the garbage bag cuts at weddings and funerals.

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

There's a big difference between garbage bag cuts and this:



What am I a woman? Am I trying to create the illusion of an hourglass figure?

Yeah, these are the types I was talking about. Do people honestly like how tight suits have become? Like am I crazy for thinking we've gone too far with it? It has nothing to do with wanting "garbage bag" cuts, just a little more natural fitting on average would be nice.

[Grimbl420]

Originally Posted by calumniate

I disagree. He just simply isn't his own person. It's not a generational thing. He towes the party line and falls into the latest trends for the biggest gains. There are on-air personalities, and then there is George,who doesn't have one. He's great at being an impartial intro, but there was never any substance to it or emotion. Wish him the best though..

He genuinely seems like the same guy he was when he started on tv with Much Music 16 years ago. Almost everyone follows trends to a point, even you I bet. George has a passion for what he does and he wears it quite loudly on his sleeve, that has always been his personality. I completely get that his passion rubs people the wrong way, and that is mistaken for being a giddy fanboy by some hockey fans. Your final assertion that he lacks substance and emotion has absolutely no basis in reality at all. The guy in nothing but emotion and if you've ever seen an interview he's done then you should definitely know he doesn't lack substance.

He was a good host IMO, and I'll miss him on HNIC. At least I can still listen to The Strombo show.

[OzSome]

I guess Strombo doesn't talk enough about the Maple Leafs that's why he'll be gone. I don't Strombo at all. He is not perfect but he's entertaining. I am glad for Ron MacLean though.

[Timbo]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Yeah, these are the types I was talking about. Do people honestly like how tight suits have become? Like am I crazy for thinking we've gone too far with it? It has nothing to do with wanting "garbage bag" cuts, just a little more natural fitting on average would be nice.

Sorry for more off topic but...
The socks are cool though.

Mini suits are one of those fashions that people will look back and cringe and say jeez I wore that? I look ridiculous. But there is always that one guy who holds on to that look. In fact there is a whole community north of here who has done exactly that with a certain hair style.

Anyhow good luck to George in his future endeavours.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

There's a big difference between garbage bag cuts and this:



What am I a woman? Am I trying to create the illusion of an hourglass figure?

Well I don't recall him wearing something that tight. Maybe some of his jackets are a bit small to be done up. But the big floppy X-files suits from the 90s are far worse.

[Cuz]

[kermitology]

George is a hockey fan, not a hockey person. Regardless of the fit of his suit, he just wasn't a good host. He was out of place with the rest of the panel and he didn't lead the show.

James Duthie would be the guy I'd be trying to get somehow. He turned into a great host after a few years as a dufus.

[troutman]

Two wrongs don't make a right.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Well I don't recall him wearing something that tight. Maybe some of his jackets are a bit small to be done up. But the big floppy X-files suits from the 90s are far worse.

What does the 90s have anyone to do with it?

Every other guy on tv looks nice except him. His suits look like he got them when he was 12 and never bought a bigger one when he hit puberty and had a growth spurt. Plenty of guys wear slimmer suits without looking like goofs.

[Gaudfather]

Seeing as Strombo is under contract anyway, why wouldn't they try more of a tandem move - still lever Strombo's hipness and appeal to the millennials while also levering Mclean's hockey knowledge. Shouldn't have to be one or the other.

While they are at they need to bring back Tim Thompson and his fabulous video montages - never understood why they cast Tim and his excellent work to the curb.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Well I don't recall him wearing something that tight. Maybe some of his jackets are a bit small to be done up. But the big floppy X-files suits from the 90s are far worse.

Sure, and it's not one or the other.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

Seeing as Strombo is under contract anyway, why wouldn't they try more of a tandem move - still lever Strombo's hipness and appeal to the millennials while also levering Mclean's hockey knowledge. Shouldn't have to be one or the other.

While they are at they need to bring back Tim Thompson and his fabulous video montages - never understood why they cast Tim and his excellent work to the curb.

80k a year. Dem savings!

[curves2000]

I think the whole experiment with HNIC in Rogers format was destroyed in a lot of ways right from the beginning. Although no fan of the CBC in a lot of ways myself, their HNIC coverage was usually excellent all around. What drove fans like me nuts was the Toronto-centric mentality and lack of choice when it came to games. A lot of fans don't remember this but prior to hurry up face-offs being a rule, games could approach 3 hours long. 7 pm EST starts would usually feature the Leafs nationally and in typical Leafs fashion they would be getting destroyed meanwhile meaningful games such as a Montreal vs Boston would be close or in OT and real fans didn't know what the hell was going on. How many times have western Canadian fans been robbed of showing the game from the start so that the entire country could see Leafs getting killed by some team 6-2?? In a lot of ways Rogers fixed that by having multiple channels so in a lot of ways I am thankful for that.

HNIC was and still is a CLASSIC but what they tried to do was make it TRENDY/HIP. Those usually clash in a lot of ways and the results were in the ratings and the ratings were BAD.

As for Strombo's choice of clothing etc, some people won't admit it but his clothing choice did bother A LOT of viewers. Even in the links and articles mentioned in the thread the authors mentioned how his style was a trending topic on twitter, in a negative way. To illustrate the clash from a clothing perspective lets just analyze the 2 panel members on HNIC who are both of Greek heritage (as am I) Kypreos and Strombo. Kypreos would usually wear a classic style suit, nothing too loud or over powering and the suit fit in a classic way and sometimes with vest. Always cleanly shaven. Strombo everybody knows went for a more edgy, form fitting look, beard and a skull head as a ring. They are both similar in age (50 vs 43) but their styles clashed with what was a traditional panel and general conservative hockey mindset.

I don't want to turn this thread into a fashion blog but I am trying to illustrate that the general viewership might have had an issue with it, right or wrong. I myself couldn't stand the fact that on day #1 of the Rogers deal that Strombo never wore a tie on HNIC and I hated the cancellation of "After hours" so that the panel could sit in red chairs, showing us funky coloured socks and show replays of games we just watched. Within a few weeks I can assure you one of the higher ups at Rogers told Strombo to throw a tie on and he hasn't taken it off since. I am not saying this is right or wrong, just saying that it has happened.

I really don't think Rogers will get the boost in ratings they think with bringing back Ron but I suspect they will get some back, most of the boost will come via improved Canadian team performance.

I do think that Strombo could be better utilized on HNIC that better suit his talents. As others have mentioned he is an excellent interviewer and I think he could do a great job of traveling to give long interviews to players, coaches, their familes etc. If you remember HNIC used to do a segment called "Inside Hockey" which was a little more in-depth, this is a feature I think he could really do well at.

You never want to see someone be let go if it is indeed true but the results weren't there and I suspect this is going to be domino #1. The payout grid for Rogers to the NHL is going to accelerate here in year 3,4,5 etc so the pressure is going to be on to attract the ratings for the revenue to make this venture profitable.

We shall see what occures but best of luck to everyone involved.