Best Hockey TV Personalities

[Better Call Sal]

Islanders have been so lousy throughout the years that I rarely watch a game, let alone pay attention to the play by play. Will have to really take one in to get a grasp on Rose. I imagine he's pretty good because he's ace on Met's broadcast.

I also don't mind Trautwig. What do people dislike about him? At the very least, after I've knocked a couple back, I get a giggle out of his name, almost every time.

He's a pompous ass who takes shots at the Devils CONSTANTLY. My favorite moment with him was when they played the video of Dano celebrating Salmela's OT goal a few years ago and he made some snide remark about being unbiased.



The following year, cue the BRUTAL CALL video.

 

[devilsblood]

I like the connection Chico has with his partners, whether it be Doc or Steve. You can feel Chico's love for the game come across all the time. He's a self-admitted homer, but that's what we want out of OUR color guy and I just love his enthusiasm and the fact that he is an amazing guy overall. One of my favorite moments was when I finally got to go into the Fire Lounge and had a discussion with him. The fact he is willing to talk shop with any fan shows what a great guy he is. You can tell he's starting to slow down more and more at his older age, but when I was younger, I thought there was nothing better than Doc and Chico during a hockey game. I'll miss him if this is his last year, it'll feel as though my last part of my childhood hockey memories will be gone if he retires on top of Marty.

For around the league, I agree with pretty much everything mentioned. For the American teams, the Stars and Sharks broadcasts are fantastic. They have a great rapport with each other and call the game fairly. I do feel the Canadian channels have the best play by play guys in the business, specifically Miller and Cuthbert.

I think that is 2 really good points about chico.

My girlfriend always talks about how energetic he is. Which combined with his goofballness, I think is pretty endearing.

And he always talks about what the fans are talking about, and he might as well be talking straight off this board. More then maybe analyst I've seen, he knows what the fans are talking about. Whether he agrees with the general fan view or not, he obviously considers our views as legitimate talking points.

I've had stretches where I wasn't so hot on Chico, and really wished Dano would get in the booth, and maybe that's because I don't remember Chico as a Devil or consider him a major part of the org the way I do Dano, but over the past year or so I've changed my tune on Chico. Kind of hope he stays around.

 

[New Jersey Devils]

I actually don't mind Steve, I always thought he'd be a boring play-by-play but actually gets into the game most of the time.

Just took a quick look at his wiki and it says he lost his wife back in '05 I wonder what happened?

 

[Uli Hiemer]

Yeah our fanbase is a bit spoiled on this one for having Doc so many years. You gain a whole new appreciation for Steve and Chico when watching the broadcasts of some other teams in the area.



I hope this is not true (nothing against Dano who is great on TV) because I will really miss Chico.



Eh maybe I am easy to please but I think Steve and Chico go quite well together. Both are easy going and lack the pretension of other teams' TV personalities. They make the broadcast fun and Steve's researched stats complement Chico's stories/anecdotes nicely.

Again, watch some other home broadcasts - we actually have it really good even after Doc's departure.

i do watch other broadcasts because i use streams more than anything, and i found other commentators better together.

steve doesn't really know the game well....still after being play by play man for what almost 2 years?
and chico rambles too much.

it could be worse, but i don't find them to be very good together. i think Dano and Steve will make a way better pair.

 

[devilsblood]

I dunno color me a denier, but that just looked like some good old fashioned ball busting.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I dunno color me a denier, but that just looked like some good old fashioned ball busting.

To me, he just comes off as smug all the time whenever he is on. There's something about him that makes me furious.

 

[devilsblood]

To me, he just comes off as smug all the time whenever he is on. There's something about him that makes me furious.

I feel the exact same way with Milbury. That dude just gets my goat.

 

[Captain Lou]

I feel the exact same way with Milbury. That dude just gets my goat.

As long he doesn't get your shoe you should be ok.

 

[Sir Fenwick Corsi]

Howie Rose? He's the ****ing worst. After 17 God damn years, you would think that his Matteau loving ass would finally realize that there is no Patrik EEL E ASH, playing in the NHL. Stick to baseball, *****.

Rosen has a great voice and when he's not calling the Rangers, he's one of the best in the business. What bothers me with him is the over the top calls for pretty much everything the Rangers do. But he is catering to their fans so it is what it is.

Chico can be annoying at times, but I think he's going to be missed big time. He's been a part of the broadcast since I've been 15 years old, so I know it will be weird for me to see him leave. The guy loves the sport, knows the game well and if you've ever met him, you can tell that he's just a straight up good guy.

Steve should be a DJ on some top 40 radio station.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

To me, he just comes off as smug all the time whenever he is on. There's something about him that makes me furious.

it's ok if he pokes fun at the Isles or Devils but if someone starts doing it to the Rangers he gets all serious and throws out excuses or blame.

it's almost like he wants to be a coach or GM or have them take what he says seriously.

I want Butch or Dano to at some point just say "what the hell do you know Al? Did you play the game?"

His comeback would be no, but he was part of the team once.

Trautwig was a stick-boy for the New York Islanders in their early days in the NHL

 

[Uli Hiemer]

What I do like about Jack Edwards is that he's an unapologetic homer, and can be hysterical at times with the over the top calls and monologues.

On ESPN, he was very good.

John Forslund is also very good in Carolina.

 

[DenisSamson3]

How about Bob Cole? He has been commentating games for over 3 decades.

 

[NJDevs26]

I love Bob Cole's voice on the big calls but I've never heard him for a whole game. Just from that I'd still prefer him over Hughson though, he's got THE most boring voice ever to me. From his doing the NHL video games to his normally nuts-and-bolts no emotion calls of big moments unless it's a Canadian team winning.

This must have been a bump judging by some of the early posts in this thread lol

 

[glenwo2]

I swear when I saw this thread, I thought it was brand new.


Then some here were discussing Steve and Chico and I was about to post "HEY! Did you forget that Chico is gone?" or something to that effect.

 

[DenisSamson3]

I swear when I saw this thread, I thought it was brand new.


Then some here were discussing Steve and Chico and I was about to post "HEY! Did you forget that Chico is gone?" or something to that effect.

Haha Glen . I have a tendency to go sifting and reading through older posts. Can find some interesting stuff in the archives.

 

[MartyOwns]

JD was outstanding. Chico was fun. Weekes is awesome. Doc wears off his welcome after 10 years. Cagney reminds me of Steven Colbert minus the humor. and with a head of steam

 

[devilsblood]

John Lu? Had never seen him prior to these playoffs, but he does a good job.

 

[Uli Hiemer]

JD was outstanding. Chico was fun. Weekes is awesome. Doc wears off his welcome after 10 years. Cagney reminds me of Steven Colbert minus the humor. and with a head of steam

JD was fantastic with Doc.....
Chico and JD are Doc's best color men ever.

 

[DenisSamson3]

I'm really liking Paul Romanuk. He used to do Spenglers cup. He also did a lot of IIHF games. Now commentating HNIC and other games here in Canada. Think he got signed by Rogers.

 

[njdevil26]

I really miss Doc and Chico.

 

[Chessarmy]

Doc is the best announcer in all of sports, bar none imo. The way he calls the game is legitimately poetic, its incredible to listen to. The rest of the NBC crew sucks, all of them.

 

[GhostofKenKlee]

Dick Irvin Jr.