The Athletic published its ranking of the various NHL broadcasts on Monday, as voted by fans. Team’s fans were asked to rate their favourite team’s broadcast on a scale from one to five and to vote on as many national broadcasts as they wanted. Then, the values were computed, and the rankings were born.

The Boston Bruins come in last at number 32, with the Pittsburgh Penguins coming in at 31, and the Toronto Maple Leafs wrapping up the bottom three. At the other end of the spectrum, the Detroit Red Wings took first place, followed by the Seattle Kraken and the Utah Mammoth. As for the Montreal Canadiens, they came in at number 10.

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As can be expected, the Canadiens are a unique market in this regard, as they offer both French and English broadcasts, which are further split into National and Local games.

In English, TSN provides local coverage, while Sportsnet offers national coverage. In French, TVA Sports receives the national broadcast, while RDS receives the local one. RDS’ duo of Pierre Houde to run the play-by-play and Marc Denis provides the colour commentary.

For years, French-speaking fans have said that the Houde-Denis duo is the best in the business, and they voted accordingly. It seems to be a valid opinion since Houde was honored with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame this past season.

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In his first post-induction game, Houde was celebrated in the Jacques Beauchamp media room with presents and speeches from Chantal Machabee, who was one of his colleagues for years, and France Margaret Belander. He was given a number 50 jersey (representing the number of years in the field), autographed by the players, an autographed Guy Lafleur Gin bottle, and scotch glasses.

Members of the media were also all given a special Molson Beer featuring the play-by-play experts. The unanimous praise for their broadcast boosted the Canadiens’ ratings here.

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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Credit: Nazem Kadri’s name was linked to that of the Canadiens last week. And the player, according to Nick Kypreos, would be willing to waive his no-trade clause in order to come and play in Montreal. The problem? The problem is this: according to Jimmy Murphy, the Habs’ interest in Kadri is not reciprocated. And I […]

Nazem Kadri’s name was linked to that of the Canadiens last week.

And the player, according to Nick Kypreos, would be willing to waive his no-trade clause in order to come and play in Montreal. The problem?

The problem is this: according to Jimmy Murphy, the Habs’ interest in Kadri is not reciprocated.

And I wonder why, in a way… because the Canadiens are looking for a quality second center, and Kadri has what it takes to fill that role in Montreal.

But now, David Pagnotta (TSN 690) is back at it again regarding the Flames player, saying he expects to see him traded soon.

Just a reminder: Kadri would be willing to waive his clause to join the Canadiens… or the Leafs.

Pagnotta – I would be surprised if we see a Kadri trade now https://t.co/SxsbLq51wX – TSN 690 Montreal (@TSN690) July 21, 2025

So, should we expect to see a trade between the Flames and Leafs in the near future?

That’s the question.

Kadri, at 34 (35 in September), seems to want to join a talented team with a chance of winning. He’d fit right in in Montreal, with the Canadiens… but we know that the loss of Mitch Marner will hurt Toronto and that the center is well known within the organization.

After all, he played until 2019, after being drafted by the Toronto club in 2009…

That said, it’s special in a way because the Flames still have a good group of forwards and we know that expectations are always high in Calgary.

Do the Flames want to move on?Do the Flames want to make room for youngsters to develop in the right way?

Are the Flames simply no longer interested in having Kadri on the club’s top line?

You have to ask yourself why the Flames want to get rid of him, and perhaps the reason why is that the Canadiens aren’t keen on the idea.

But clearly, this is an interesting case for several reasons… especially when you consider the Habs’ current needs.

Overtime

– Nice.

For those that prefer watching to reading an interview, my full chat with Logan Mailloux below: https://t.co/D2KS628KNk – Marco D’Amico (@mndamico) July 21, 2025

– I don’t hate results.

NHL 26 has yet to name a cover athlete, so we tried our hand at a few options. Are you copping any of these? Who do you want to see grace the cover this year? pic.twitter.com/pBccr6PJhk – BarDown (@BarDown) July 21, 2025

– Trop cute.

– Sad news.

Carlos Alcaraz withdraws from the National Bank Open https://t.co/RGMWioPeiT – Radio-Canada Sports (@RC_Sports) July 21, 2025

– Good news.

Credit: Every year, The Athletic ranks the broadcast teams in each NHL market. It’s no different in 2025. For example, last year, the Canadiens’ broadcast team was ranked 13th in the National League. This year… it’s ranked 10th. The article states that TSN and RDS broadcast the Canadiens’ regional games in English and French. But there’s […]

Every year, The Athletic ranks the broadcast teams in each NHL market.

It’s no different in 2025.

For example, last year, the Canadiens’ broadcast team was ranked 13th in the National League. This year… it’s ranked 10th.

The article states that TSN and RDS broadcast the Canadiens’ regional games in English and French.

But there’s no mention of TVA Sports – or Sportsnet, for that matter.

For RDS, the comments are interesting in the sense that there’s love being poured out for Pierre Houde and Marc Denis.

Canadiens fans adore Houde and Denis, considering them the best in the business. Houde received the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Foster Hewitt Memorial Award last season, a distinction many felt was richly deserved. – Harman Dayal and James Mirtle

Athletic subscribers: Which NHL broadcasts are the best? 2025 broadcast rankings, rated by fans. Winnipeg climbs several spots:https://t.co/lNKZ9MCx6N – Murat Ates (@WPGMurat) July 21, 2025

The Athletic acknowledges that the popularity of the latter is still high among fans:The article in question can be found below:

Of course, it’s good to see Pierre Houde and Marc Denis getting some credit (which they deserve).

The duo have been a pair for several years now on RDS… and Canadiens fans love to hear their voices on TV because they do a good job.

But it’s also peculiar that The Athletic only talks about RDS when explaining the position of the Canadiens in the rankings of the best broadcast teams in the National League.

The comments are focused solely on the Sports Network – there are no comments on TSN in The Athletic’s article -… and it shows, in a way, that the work of Pierre Houde and Marc Denis is recognized throughout the NHL.

Overtime

Which, once again, is well deserved.

– He could help Canada.

Does he belong at the Games? https://t.co/kb3J55x1Dw – TVA Sports (@TVASports) July 21, 2025

– Beautiful story.

That winning feeling @Venuseswilliams returns with DC’s own @savvy_bap for a 6-3 6-1 win over Bouchard/Ngounoue!#MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/xkEyt0uO4i – Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 21, 2025

– Some MLB rumors.

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.

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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.

32. Boston Bruins

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.”

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“Love him or hate him, Jack kept things interesting. Now it’s just another broadcast.”

31. Pittsburgh Penguins

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.”

30. Toronto Maple Leafs

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.

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“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.”

29. Nashville Predators

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.

28. Buffalo Sabres

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.

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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.”

27. Minnesota Wild

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.

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“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.

26. Chicago Blackhawks

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.

25. New Jersey Devils

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.

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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.”

24. Anaheim Ducks

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.”

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23. Calgary Flames

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.

Tripp Tracy interviews Andrei Svechnikov. (Gregg Forwerck / NHLI via Getty Images)

22. Carolina Hurricanes

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.”

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“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.”

21. Columbus Blue Jackets

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.”

20. Los Angeles Kings

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.

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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.

19. Colorado Avalanche

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.

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“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.”

18. Philadelphia Flyers

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.”

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17. Ottawa Senators

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.”

16. Vegas Golden Knights

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.

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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.”

15. Florida Panthers

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!

14. St. Louis Blues

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

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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.

13. Tampa Bay Lightning

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.”

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“They are awesome. Insightful, friendly. It’s like listening to your hockey-savant friends.”

12. New York Islanders

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.”

11. Winnipeg Jets

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.

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“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.

10. Montreal Canadiens

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.”

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“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.”

9. New York Rangers

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!”

Ray Ferraro is one of the best color analysts in the league. (Eliot J. Schechter / NHLI via Getty Images)

8. Vancouver Canucks

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.

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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.

7. San Jose Sharks

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.

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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.

6. Dallas Stars

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.

5. Edmonton Oilers

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.

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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.

4. Washington Capitals

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 pic.twitter.com/FVzkcYf2rn — NHL (@NHL) April 6, 2025

3. Utah Mammoth

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.

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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.

2. Seattle Kraken

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.

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“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.

1. Detroit Red Wings

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)

Petr Mrazek’s goaltending odyssey now takes him to the Anaheim Ducks. Essentially John Gibson’s less expensive replacement, Mrazek will be counted on to play quite a bit as a backup to Lukáš Dostál so that his young countryman doesn’t wear down in the No. 1 role.

“We’re certainly going to be counting on him for at least 30 starts,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said. “I think the cool thing is Lukáš and Petr, they were teammates at the world championships. They’re very familiar with one another. They’re good friends.

“Petr’s very competitive. Having that relationship, I feel that they’re going to push each other real hard to be the best. I think it’ll be a good tandem.”

At times inconsistent and unpredictable in his 13-year career with five teams, the 33-year-old Mrazek will have some work to do as the Ducks had a strong tandem of Dostál and Gibson in their 21-point improvement over 2023-24 that put them on the fringe of playoff contention in the second half of the season. Mrazek finished the season with the Detroit Red Wings – his second stint with the club – after making 33 starts with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Ducks saw Dostál ascend into a full-fledged No. 1 goalie last season but also witnessed him wear down in the second half as his numbers began to plummet. Mrazek has a career .906 save percentage but he’s been a sub-.900 goalie in three of the last four seasons.

“Seeing Lukáš play 54 games probably helped last year,” Verbeek said. “I’m not sure (or) ecstatic that I want him to play that many. It’s a lot of games and so bringing in Mrazek, he’s carried the load for different teams at different times. That experience that he has in that area made it more comfortable to be able to do that.

“We had a really good tandem and I wasn’t really crazy about breaking up the tandem. But I think with getting a goaltender that I felt comfortable with coming back that could support Lukáš made the difference.”