Leah colour Rick ball pbp

[calumniate]

My new dream! I dislike how Rick gets turnstiled with various others all the time. Let's find him someone stable. Leah, come on down!

[scobel]

I like kelly Hrudey, I am not as big of fan of Cassie but she is improving, both are better then Drew Remenda.

I think Leah will be back in some form with the Calgary broadcasts. I hope it isn’t colour and maybe like her old role of a panel host for a after game show. She would be great with Krahn, Stajan, Lubo etc.

[TheScorpion]

Cassie has started to really grow on me, she's been awesome the last two games.

[calumniate]

I like hrudey too, but unfortunately he's Mia half the time.

[Harry Lime]

It was surprising to me to hear about how hard it has been for Leah to get any reps in calling games. Anywhere. She has an impressive resume, and background.

NHL, AHL, ECHL, Junior. Granted, she is currently based out of Winnipeg, so that is a difficulty, but not giving her an opportunity somewhere is a bad look on hockey as a whole.

[Rando]

Originally Posted by calumniate

I like hrudey too, but unfortunately he's Mia half the time.

Because Sportsnet want him in Toronto for weekends.

[calumniate]

Originally Posted by Rando

Because Sportsnet want him in Toronto for weekends.

I know that. It's part of my point really

[flames_fan_down_under]

Typically (well always) the color analyst has a history of playing very high level hockey so I don't think Leah is the right choice in that regard. I actually think Leah has a bright future as a PBP personality and I hope she gets more opportunities down the road.

[djsFlames]

I like Leah quite a bit.

Mainly cause she has wit and different tones in her voice that she puts on based on the situation or remark. Some great bits of dialogue in today's game call that were different and fun.

Monotone isn't the much fun for colour commentary. Have to say simmer and cassie to a lesser extent kind of fall into that category.

[jmerkel3d]

Well Women's Day aside (for the record I think it's great what Sportsnet did today), but I thought Leah felt behind the play at times and she just left too much awkward silence sometimes when the play was going on. She lacked that change in intensity of her voice when good chances were developing that really translates the excitement of the game and it was missed from the game. But I think she has potential, just sounded a bit amateurish. I know this might be a unpopular opinion, especially today, but glad they gave her a shot.

Cassie is getting better in her delivery, but her constant gaffes can be really distracting. And I'm not picking on the women here because I like Kelly as a personality, but his delivery can be pretty fumbly at times to. Was definitely interesting to hear a woman do play by play for a major men's sport though, but it also made me realize how much of an absolute pro Ball is.

[FireGilbert]

As someone who follows cricket and absolutely loves the commentary of Isa Guha it wasn't a shock to hear a female doing the PBP. I hope this is more than just a one off thing because there is no reason a woman can't do this job just as well as a man if given the chance. Come on Sportsnet, make Leah full time PBP!

Colour commentary on the other hand does require some form of relevant playing experience to provide a proper analysis. Campbell is more than qualified but I don't see this becoming a 50/50 split any time soon or at least until a long term woman's professional league is a thing.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

Typically (well always) the color analyst has a history of playing very high level hockey so I don't think Leah is the right choice in that regard. I actually think Leah has a bright future as a PBP personality and I hope she gets more opportunities down the road.

That's what they typically do but is it really the right choice?

Give me a Speak and Spell over garbage like John Garrett or Greg Millen.

The Oilers had Brett Kissell sit in on their broadcast and despite just being a fan, he did a better job of color than about half of the "pros".

I think the NHL would be better off giving more color jobs to guys or girls that are entertainers first and foremost, (as well as hockey fans) over guys that just played pro hockey.

[Northendzone]

for her first game i thought leah was solid

[CroFlames]

What is the logic in putting a great PBP announcer into the colour commentary role?

Rick Ball can do regional and Leah can do national broadcasts.

[RyZ]

A permanent team of Ball and Hrudy works just fine for me.

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by RyZ

A permanent team of Ball and Hrudy works just fine for me.

Me 2, I love them as a combo

[Torture]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

That's what they typically do but is it really the right choice?

Give me a Speak and Spell over garbage like John Garrett or Greg Millen.

The Oilers had Brett Kissell sit in on their broadcast and despite just being a fan, he did a better job of color than about half of the "pros".

I think the NHL would be better off giving more color jobs to guys or girls that are entertainers first and foremost, (as well as hockey fans) over guys that just played pro hockey.

This.

[Johnny Makarov]

ABBCC! Anyone but boring Cassie Campbell

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

That's what they typically do but is it really the right choice?

Give me a Speak and Spell over garbage like John Garrett or Greg Millen.

The Oilers had Brett Kissell sit in on their broadcast and despite just being a fan, he did a better job of color than about half of the "pros".

I think the NHL would be better off giving more color jobs to guys or girls that are entertainers first and foremost, (as well as hockey fans) over guys that just played pro hockey.

Yep I agree.

I can't remember the last time a color person added any little tidbit that I actually thought "oh thanks for that". They usually just get it wrong and are proven wrong by the replay.

If they were at least a little bit entertaining I don't think I would tune them out.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Well Tony Romo just got 17 million dollars a year for basically setting the new standard in sports color commentary. He is bright, well spoken, entertaining, and deftly illuminates parts of the game that a regular viewer would not be able to see. Surely there is someone out there that can provide that sort of perspective for NHL hockey.

I remember when Hughson and Simpson thought their microphones were off during a TV timeout and they were criticizing Willie Desjardins for line deployment. That was truly the most interesting discussion of hockey I had seen on a hockey telecast in years, yet they did it when they thought the microphones were off.