T1B

It debuts this weekend with a simliar slate of games you'd see on ABC. You'll get a lot of Red Wings, Avalanche, Flyers, Stars, Rangers and Penguins but there will be some other clubs sprinkled in. They've got a decent schedule...interested to see how the broadcasts will be presented.

Here are the broadcast teams and studio hosts...

Studio Host: Bill Clement
Studio Analyst: Ray Ferraro

Game of the Week team
Play By Play: Mike Emrick
Analyst: John Davidson
Reporter: Pierre McGuire

Team #2
Play By Play: Chris Cuthbert
Color: Peter McNab
Reporter: Cammi Granato

Team #3
Play By Play Dave Strader
Color: Brian Hayward
Reporter: Joe Michelleti

The full NBC schedule...
http://www.nhl.com/schedules/nbc_sked.html

Some interesting name in there...

I imagine this would be most Americans' first introduction to Chris Cuthbert. One of the finest in the biz, IMO. Complete and utter class and calls an exciting game.

Ray Ferraro is another interesting one. He's been the colour guy for Oilers broadcasts for the last couple years, and does a decent job, if you ask me.

Bill Clement sucks and I think it's a shame he keeps finding work.

Pierre Maguire is a guy you either love or hate, I think. I think he's great. He's enthusiastic and unbiased. He praises when it's called for and criticizes likewise.

I really feel it's time the American hockey broadcasters stop talking down to their viewers. Hopefully NBC does that.

I didnt like Ferraro when he first started but only because he was a little shaky but has improved big time. Now when I watch one of the Oil PPV games I miss hearing him.

Ditto on what FF said about Cuthbert, the yanks are in for a treat.

Wings, 3 roadies, 1 at the Joe. Wish I could catch more home games.

Peter McNab once held down a Ranger fan so Mike Milbury could hit him with his own shoe. I'll always love him for that.

JD wrote:Bill Clement sucks Red Wing cock

ftfy

holy cammi granato!

Brian Hayward? Have any of the execs at NBC listened to Duck Homer calling the Sucks games? Watching last night's game against the Kings, I thought he was going to give Giguere on air fellatio. Amazing how that jackass has kept his job for 13 years.

Granato, she absolutely sucked as the color announcer for Kings radio for 2 seasons.

JD wrote:I imagine this would be most Americans' first introduction to Chris Cuthbert. One of the finest in the biz, IMO. Complete and utter class and calls an exciting game.

I keep reading that he's supposed to be really good behind the mic. I'm interested to see him call a game to see for myself. I've always been an Emrick/Davidson fan when they were the lead team on FOX. They'll be the lead team for the Olympics as well. Thorne/Clement were familiar voices for a very long time but that doesn't mean they were the best though. Clement is okay on OLN as the studio guy but not for NBC.

Part of me hoped for Marv Albert to call games but I think the NBA has him locked down. He would've at least been a name for regular people to recognize. Why not Bob Costas? Didn't he get his start calling college hockey? He's got credibility and everyone knows who he is. He's great at calling baseball games.

RACK Dave Strader on the #3 job. He's always been a solid play-by-play guy. I almost wish he'd come back to Detroit if it was possible. The glory days of Dave and Mickey on PASS were awesome. I watch the Panthers games on Center Ice just to hear Strades.

For those with CI, the 3 regional games will be televised.

Cross Traffic wrote:For those with CI, the 3 regional games will be televised.

Nice!

Initial thoughts, I could do without the shift clock. I like how they highlight lines and defense pairs at the begining just like they do on HNIC.

Is it just me, or does the camera look like it's shooting the game from Ohio?

:?

I like being able to see more of the ice. The OLN camera angles have been way too tight. You can see the players and the puck better but when you're at a game, the best part is being able to watch the entire ice surface. Personally, I wish the sound would be a little better. It's not much of experience with the surround sound system turned on. ABC and FOX did a better job with providing on-ice sound. I like having the third guy between the bench and providing to the broadcast...McGuire has been solid during the game giving quick and useful information.

Good to hear Chris Cuthbert's on (Dallas v. Boston).

He got scewed by the CBC during the strike.

As I figured, the Strader/Hayward pairing was the worst. Hayward is the NHL's version of Marcus Allen.

Cammi Granato sounded like she had marbles in her mouth, no improvement in the 6 years since she worked for the Kings.

I did like how the studio show is set up outside by the rink at Rockerfeller Center, seeing Messier, Clement and Ferraro on the ice was nice.

Peter McNab must be Greg Millen's clone. Watching that Dallas-Boston game, I could swear it was just like watching CBC 2 years ago with Cuthbert and Millen.