Speculation: Harry Neale Laid Off

[HiddenInLight]

According to this story posted by the Buffalo Sabres facebook page, the sabres have laid off Harry Neale.

http://www.sportsmedia101.com/buffa...tedly-part-ways-with-broadcaster-harry-neale/

Just months before he's set to be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame, broadcaster Harry Neale has reportedly been laid off by the Buffalo Sabres.

Joe Bowen, a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs' broadcast team, tweeted the news late Sunday. The Sabres have yet to confirm.

Neale joined the Sabres in 2007-08 as a color commentator alongside Rick Jeanneret. He was taken out of the booth for the 2013 season in favor of Rob Ray and added to the team doing intermission and pre-game reports. He is set to receive the Foster Hewitt Award and enshrinement in the Hall in November.

Prior to working for the Sabres, Neale was a Leafs and CBC commentator for nearly two decades. He also coached the Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings.

This would be the second broadcasting move the team has made in the past week. Jeanneret signed a three-year extension last week but will take on a reduced role and retire after that. Dan Dunleavy will relieve Jeanneret in those three years and take over the job full-time after that.

Click to read more...

 

[Deevo]

I'd love to read a similar news story regarding Rob Ray.

 

[MayDay]

Overdue.

The Sabres haven't had a decent color commentator/analyst since Jim Lorentz retired.

 

[vcv]

I wouldn't call that tweet confirmation of anything. It says he's been "cut from the broadcast", not laid off.

 

[Sabre the Win]

This is old news. The correct word would be. Fired. or. Canned.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

Figured something like this happens. Dunleavy coming in and Ray staying.

 

[SabresBillsBuffalo]

Maybe Duffer moves up

 

[joshjull]

Maybe Duffer moves up

Moves up to what?

All Neale did last year was be part of a between periods segment with Duff. He was barely part of the broadcast.

 

[Myllz]

 

[Clock]

Happy trails, Harold.

 

[aceface33]

I'm gonna miss him. His two minutes were the most entertaining part of the game last year!

 

[indigoo]

His last season ended up being a bout of incoherent babble much of the time. Incoherent but definitely entertaining. Best wishes to him but it was definitely time to let him go.

 

[enthusiast]

It's odd that they won't even give him those two minutes. Maybe there's something with management.

 

[Timbo Slice]

It was time to put him out to pasture. Razor is next.

 

[5 Minute Major]

Tough crowd.

I always got a kick out of Harry.

 

[cardiffgiant]

Tough crowd.

I always got a kick out of Harry.

seriously. the dude has an infinite supply of corny sayings. in a more limited role (especially when the season wasn't going well), i thought he was amusing.

 

[Dex]

No surprise here about letting Harry go. After he was replaced by Ray, they tossed him abone with the 2 minutes with Harry Neale segment - which as many have mentioned - did not work as effectively as hoped.

I will say that I've enjoyed some of the extended segments he's done on the Hockey Hotline show. Once he gets going, he's got some great stories.

I think though, that his age has caught up with him in terms of TV broadcast coverage.

Plus, Dunleavy is supposed to be doing pre and post game pieces when not doing the broadcast. So with Duff, Dunleavy, and Robitaille - there's just no room for Harry.

 

[Myllz]

seriously. the dude has an infinite supply of corny sayings. in a more limited role (especially when the season wasn't going well), i thought he was amusing.

I don't want my broadcasters to be amusing, I want them to follow the game and comment on it. Harry hasn't been able to follow the game since long before he got to Buffalo.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

I don't want my broadcasters to be amusing, I want them to follow the game and comment on it. Harry hasn't been able to follow the game since long before he got to Buffalo.

Pretty much. Too old. I stopped watching broadcast because of him and Ray. I usually prefer other team's crew. I said as much in a survey I participated in.

 

[HarryNealesGarden]

Welp.

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

Neale is a legend and even at the tail end of his career the Sabres organization was lucky to have a HoF broadcaster want to come here to work. We definitely don't get anyone with his stature/name recognition on the ice, that's for sure

 

[Paxon]

I thought it was a good idea to let him go from his color commentary role, though Rob Ray has been a disaster as a replacement. I liked Neale in his role last season and would have preferred to see him remain in it, but alas. Not a big deal either way.

 

[CrankyJay]

This is old news. The correct word would be. Fired. or. Canned.

You mean "iced"

 

[Disengage]

You mean "iced"

Compliance buyout.

 

[ZZamboni]

He'll catch on with another team. He's in his prime. Or is it golden years? Oh what's the difference?