Rumor: Are Ron MacLean and Kevin Bieksa about to leave Sportsnet?

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Travis Neil
July 13, 2023 (8:36 PM)

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After an expansion in the NHL, competition for coverage has never been more intense. It seems like the Sportsnet panel might be the first casualty.

Reports suggest that Elliotte Friedman is the only member of the current Sportsnet panel who is truly safe.

Howard Berger, a former employee at Rogers/Sportsnet, reports that a change is imminent for the panel.

We may not recognize the Hockey Night In Canada panel next season. Based on what I'm told, only Elliotte Friedman is safe from the changes and cost�cutting measures on the horizon.»

- Howard Berger

With cuts to funding it is unknown what the fate of the rest of the panel holds.

Hockey Night studio commentators Ron MacLean, Kelly Hrudey, Kevin Bieksa and Jennifer Botterill remains to be determined, but MacLean's future, in particular, seems tenuous. For the bulk of 37 years � by far the longest tenure of any person � MacLean has hosted Hockey Night intermissions, taking over (in 1986) from Dave Hodge.

- Howard Berger

The Competition

TNT and ESPN have taken on the coverage of the NHL and have given Sportsnet a run for their money.

TNT's panel has grown a ton of interest and has been a breathe of fresh air for the NHL.

Paul Bissonnete and Wayne Gretzky are the two main faces that keep the panel fresh.

The panel that keeps it more casual than its Sportsnet counterpart and has seen success with this approach already.

It might be time the Sportsnet panel follows suit.

As Seen on Hockeyfeed - Rumor: Bieksa, Hrudey and Ron MacLean are out at Sportsnet

POLL
JUILLET 13 \| 8183 ANSWERS Rumor: Are Ron MacLean and Kevin Bieksa about to leave Sportsnet? Do you like watching Ron Maclean and Kevin Bieksa on Sportsnet?
Yes	1343	16.4 %
No	836	10.2 %
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