Confirmed with Link: Eddie Olczyk out as color commentator

[BuddyTheGoon]

Well damn. Loved Eddie. And apparently I'm the only one who likes Colby.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Assuming it was a competitive offer, this is surprising. I would've guessed it was more a factor of a mutual breakup at best between the Hawks and Eddie, or the Hawks gently letting him know they were moving on, but wasn't expecting Eddie to be the instigator.

Which, to be clear, is not a knock against Eddie. The product will stink and the organization's luster got a helluva lot more dull the past year, so I can't blame anyone for moving on, especially after his buddy moved on as well.

 

[Chuck Testa]

Any games that I watch this season I'll have the TV muted for any home broadcasts.

That Cohen dude is in the same category as Leah Hextall as an announcer.

Garbage.

 

[clydesdale line]

Sharp or Versteeg would be ideal. Give me a charismatic guy.

 

[WarLax]

After these last few years I'm not disappointed to hear it. His mostly passive...and sometimes overtly aggressive commentary towards the Hawks at times was grating.

Hoping they get Sharpy, heck I miss Burish from the official Hawks podcast even.

But really....just not Colby please.

 

[RayP]

Well damn. Loved Eddie. And apparently I'm the only one who likes Colby.

And I might be the only one who thinks Sharp is pretty vanilla and boring.

 

[ploppsdman]

Hot take: He wants to partner with a legitimate announcer and not hold the hand of a hack. That's hockey, baby!

 

[Muffinalt]

Bring in Burr and Sharpie!!!!

 

[Flahawkfan]

With all the fill-ins last year did they actually hear one that was better than Eddie?
Maybe they were so impressed with Tallon............Nah

Sharp....Burish..... Versteeg (30 sec delay will be needed), Shaw, Grimson- Any of these would make this palatable.

More likely,
Colby, Caley, Konroyd, Mayers, or C. Fraser

 

[clydesdale line]

Sharp....Burish..... Versteeg (30 sec delay will be needed), Shaw, Grimson- Any of these would make this palatable.

More likely,
Colby, Caley, Konroyd, Mayers, or C. Fraser

Fraser works in the Blackhawks scouting department. He's not stepping down to commentary.

 

[bwana63]

Steeger > Sharp, IMO. But either would be great. And literally anyone is better than Colby.

 

[PrairieDayz]

Cornelison/Pellico next?…the franchise gutting will be complete when HOFer to be Kane and Toews get fed up…new roster filled with has beens and no names…

 

[Idionym]

Cornelison/Pellico next?…the franchise gutting will be complete when HOFer to be Kane and Toews get fed up…new roster filled with has beens and no names…

If they get rid of Pellico I'm no longer going to be a fan. The only reason I watch is because the organ slaps.

Cornelison can go, he's just being carried by Pellico's generational organ playing.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

That's too bad. I think Eddie is the best analyst in the game in terms of seeing and explaining the play in real time. He sees in real time what the rest of us see only after replay. My only beef with Eddie was his sickening bromance on the air with Foley.

PLEASE - NOT COLBY.

 

[BLKHKhockey]

Hopefully, this is also the year they move on from the Dagger.

 

[bwana63]

Put Steeger in the booth and I'll actually watch some, if not most, games. He's a natural and he's flippin' hilarious.

 

[BuddyTheGoon]

Hopefully, this is also the year they move on from the Dagger.

Didn't think about that. I'll bet you're right!

 

[bwana63]

Hopefully, this is also the year they move on from the Dagger.

Yeah, if there was ever a time to retire it, it's now.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

I echo that Sharp should be called to gauge interest

The Hawks were for most part just awful without Foley/Eddie O last year when it came to TV

It's going to be awful experience for fans in coming years with the options available to Hawks now unless Sharp or someone of similar caliber comes aboard

 

[Styles]

Hopefully, this is also the year they move on from the Dagger.

It barely gets played anyway.

 

[vegarover]

Bring back Bill Gardner. That way their minor league broadcast team will mirror the minor league team on the ice.

 

[Crow]

Adíos ed. way to leave us in a big ole pile of shit broadcast wise

 

[Fenway]

I am shocked he signed with Seattle

Blackhawks TV analyst Eddie Olczyk bolts for Seattle Kraken after Hawks talks break down

Olczyk couldn’t reach an agreement with management on a new contract. His deal expired after the season. According to a source, the Hawks would not give him the same contract length that the Kraken did.

chicago.suntimes.com

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Bring back Bill Gardner. That way their minor league broadcast team will mirror the minor league team on the ice.

Gardner, I enjoyed when he was with Pat

Not sure why some fans never liked him, and he does great with Wolves

Hawks would upgrade massively to bring back Billy at this point

 

[vegarover]

With all the fill-ins last year did they actually hear one that was better than Eddie?
Maybe they were so impressed with Tallon............Nah

Sharp....Burish..... Versteeg (30 sec delay will be needed), Shaw, Grimson- Any of these would make this palatable.

Out of that group of names, Stu is the only one that has any extensive color guy experience. At least as far as I'm aware of. Sharp I think only has one game under his belt. Burish, Shaw, and Versteeg are strictly studio guys.

*edit: I forgot to include Shaw