[Rumour] Big changes coming at HNIC

[Azhouse]

MacLean is brutal. I don’t really care what Dutch Magee did in the ole barn back in Sarnia in ‘52. He sold Cherry down the road to his corporate masters as well. And when he recites Tragically Hip lyrics (or whatever) in the playoffs is cringe worthy. He’s a weasel.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

All sports broadcasters in all leagues have a mandate to pump up the superstars. It’s why CBS, FOX, etc. gush about Patrick Mahomes. And why the NBA and its broadcasters won’t shut up about Giannis.

There’s no conspiracy. As long as he’s the biggest star in the NHL, the media will gush about McDavid every chance they get. And when Bedard tops the scoring race, they’ll move on to raving about him in every broadcast. It’s their job.

I can’t imagine how much people around here would have griped about unfairness back when Gretzky was suiting up for the Oilers. How dare SNL invite Gretzky to host the show instead of Hakan Loob!

There's no conspiracy but you need to touch on the real reason - The Gretzky Oilers were a dream in the 80's and outside of Calgary they were this larger than life entity that created fans all over Canada.

What we've seen in the past couple decades is a large percentage of all media/pundits growing up in their younger years during that Oilers dynasty. There's no mandate, it's just a fact that lots of media guys were huge fans of the Oilers.

That's why you saw huge excitement and predictions of Oilers success starting in the mid-2000's, long before McDavid came along.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by jayswin

I love sports fandom so much. We get these comments about Hrudey on CP, then you follow Oilers comments on Hrudey when he does the BOA and it's all "**** Hrudey just gushing over the Flames all game, he can't call anything objectively when it's Flames/Oilers".

The thing with Hrudey is he hates Sutter.

He came across like a Flames supporter prior to the rehiring of Sutter here. At the very least, he was fair in discussing the Flames. After the coach was brought in its like he suddenly jumped ship for the Oilers. As others pointed out he had some negative experiences under Darryl and that bled through into his commentary around the teams. He wasn't anti-Flames per se, you could tell he still was a fan of many individual players, but you could definitely sense that he wished Darryl no success.

Oiler fans see him that way because they remember Hrudey pre-Sutter hiring but clearly haven't adjusted to the fact that he took up the orange pom poms over the last two years.

[jayswin]

I cared more when I was younger and they were pumping up crappy Oilers teams with first rounder after first rounder. Now that I'm older I just don't have the care for drama or railing againts opinions on a broadcast.

Now I'm more like "The Flames win and lose and the Oilers win and lose the same, regardless of anything said by anyone, so who cares?".

[bluejays]

I actually traditionally like MacLean. He's sharp with the puns, and has really toned down his schtick to be a little more likeable since the Cherry incident. I don't also blame him for the Cherry thing. Cherry said so many things over the years that he probably got used to it during the main controversy. I also don't think he threw Cherry under the bus at all. He cared about his job and Cherry stuck to his guns, end of story. They just simply picked their sides. Frankly I couldn't support Cherry because he didn't deserve the benefit of the doubt given his past.


Anyway, regarding the full panel at HNIC, this is the first year all of them were really likeable. They hired a full qualified team which was probably a first. In the past certain characters were brought in for the sake of diversity but they were terrible - namely recently Anthony Stewart and Cassie Campbell, but recently all have been very good. Some of their supporting cast really grate on my nerves - Kyle Baukaskas, Jeff Marek and others are just MacLean wannabe's. Their hand gestures copying him to a tee are annoying. Marek in particular loves hearing the sound of his voice and his jaw clench and playing serious I can do without. I really have no idea what they'd go with if they let the current panel go.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

The thing with Hrudey is he hates Sutter.

He came across like a Flames supporter prior to the rehiring of Sutter here. At the very least, he was fair in discussing the Flames. After the coach was brought in its like he suddenly jumped ship for the Oilers. As others pointed out he had some negative experiences under Darryl and that bled through into his commentary around the teams. He wasn't anti-Flames per se, you could tell he still was a fan of many individual players, but you could definitely sense that he wished Darryl no success.

Oiler fans see him that way because they remember Hrudey pre-Sutter hiring but clearly haven't adjusted to the fact that he took up the orange pom poms over the last two years.

Yeah, that's true. I loved that about him, it's how he felt and didn't hide it. He felt the media and arena staff deserved more respect from Sutter and he didn't mind expressing that, while the alternative would be for Rogers to sit him down and silence him on that.

For better or worse I want every media guy speaking his mind. Hrudey's pretty good for that, you don't feel like you're getting a canned/reeled in opinion on anything. He speaks like a guy at the bar giving his thoughts on the game and so does Rick Ball. Love it.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by SutterBrother

This 100% describes me. Gambling addiction is real, and I certainly don't want my kid seeing it. Unlike alcohol, you don't just grab your phone and push a button and have a bottle suddenly appear in front of you.

Originally Posted by Cortez

Door Dash, Skip the dishes, and Uber Eats say hi

Lol, yeah alcohol isn't readily available within a 5 minute walk of every house. I get what he's saying, but ease of access to alcohol is pretty much a non existent deterrent to consuming alcohol.

[browna]

Well, again this is a notorious source who's half truths about issues in order to get clicks is what's kept him relevant. Likely some changes at HNIc as their is many years but maybe not so dramatic.

That said, Amber is clearly the replacement for MacLean, but he's no better, which makes him worse. His toeing the corporate Snet line is worse than MacLean, trying to pump the tires on everything, and such things as in the Finals he was trying to tie everything to Canada and Canadians, even on the ice in final interviews. MacLean can act hokey because he's been doing sports for 40+ years on TV, Amber comes across far too much as a corporate cheerleader that doesn't seem genuine.

Hrudey is fine on the panel, but one wonders if Snet is done with flying him out week after week and putting him in a hotel for 4 nights for 8 months. Or he is done with it.

I really do hope it's Ball and Millen more than not as our PBP team. They work well together the last season and tail end and playoffs, two seasons ago. Millen is old school where he actually breaks down plays and situations and calls things out, where Hrudey makes more casual (and muddling) observations in games and goes well out of his way to make sure the other team or certain players on the other team are adequately fellated, more than is required on a regional Flames broadcast, as if he doesn't want to sound too biased, and so he can go to Toronto on the weekend as an informed analyst.

I will say the intermission spots in regional Flames games were better last year. Caroline Cameron and Gazdic or Sam Cosentino or whoever else, did good jobs. Anthony Stewart can go though from that and the main panel.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Nah, it's mandated from above and they'll probably have McDavid host.

Why not have him as host? He referees as well.

In fact, does everything!

Apart from D.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

Why not have him as host? He referees as well.

In fact, does everything!

Apart from D.

He doesn't do Stanley Cups either. At least not in Edmonton, Edmonton is NG.

[PeteMoss]

I think people who think Hrudey is biased against the Flames are taking crazy pills. He's not a raging Flames homer, but he doesn't have a hate on for the Flames or some major love for the Oilers.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

I think people who think Hrudey is biased against the Flames are taking crazy pills. He's not a raging Flames homer, but he doesn't have a hate on for the Flames or some major love for the Oilers.

Yeah, that’s a really bizarre binary thought process around here. If anyone criticizes the Flames and subsequently supports an Oilers play they’re instantly against the flames.

[Weitz]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1681052403368353793

[Robbob]

So a nothing burger. I guess he can still be 75% right. Unless Rogers hasn't told Ron yet.

[getbak]

Causing all the kids at Smilezone for Kids to lose their smiles. Way to go, Ron.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Weitz

https://twitter.com/user/status/1681052403368353793

Who’s background story is he threatening to recite in an overly dramatized fashion over a montage?

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Robbob

So a nothing burger. I guess he can still be 75% right. Unless Rogers hasn't told Ron yet.

I'm not going to completely write off a vet reporters reporting because he could still be right. Last time around I think they made the decision before training camp began. Still may be the case here where he intends on being back and perhaps they talked initially, but there's still time to make a change in direction if they choose.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Weitz

https://twitter.com/user/status/1681052403368353793

God DAMMIT!!

[curves2000]

It makes sense that they can make a change with a final goodbye season. As I have said in other threads, HNIC and Ron/Don were part of TV history. The highest rated program in Canada for the longest running tv program in history (I believe)

You don't need to do the brand anymore damage to try and save some salary money potentially. You can still replace the host and give a solid send off.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by bluejays

I'm not going to completely write off a vet reporters reporting because he could still be right. Last time around I think they made the decision before training camp began. Still may be the case here where he intends on being back and perhaps they talked initially, but there's still time to make a change in direction if they choose.

Sec213's gifs are likely more accurate than this report.