John Bartlett to call Leafs games [Romanuk's Replacement]

[nsleaf]

Well yeah. But its pretty embarrassing when your play by play announcer keeps messing up the players names.

Who's embarrassed? PBP guy don't play for the Leafs and has no influence on how they play. To me they all sound like the teacher voice from Charlie Brown cartoons.

 

[rojac]

I guess we get to see how skilled this guy is talking **** about the leafs. Can Toronto media ever hire any fans?

I’ve never understood why anyone cares what the play by play guy or analyst says.

 

[Duke Silver]

But not only did Romanuk confuse two players with each other a lot more often than any other commentator I've ever heard, he also would just straight up get names wrong consistently and often. Michael Nylander, John Van Riemsdyk, James Nieuwendyk, etc and that has nothing to do with perspective. Not to mention no matter your angle, it's not hard to see which way a player shoots, and for someone who covered Leafs games for a few years that should have been ample time to learn that Kadri shoots left and Bozak shoots right, yet he almost always confused these two players. Posters here who obsess over hockey obviously aren't relying on the commentator to know who is who, but Romanuk was very confusing to someone like my dad who doesn't watch hockey obsessively enough to memorise player numbers, etc. And I'm sure that there are many casual fans in a similar boat.

Oh absolutely, I'm not excusing Romanuk at all for that. Misidentifying players from a distance and blatantly misnaming the correct ones are two different things. Take a look at the damn lineup sheet, Paul.

 

[Nooodles]

But not only did Romanuk confuse two players with each other a lot more often than any other commentator I've ever heard, he also would just straight up get names wrong consistently and often. Michael Nylander, John Van Riemsdyk, James Nieuwendyk, etc and that has nothing to do with perspective. Not to mention no matter your angle, it's not hard to see which way a player shoots, and for someone who covered Leafs games for a few years that should have been ample time to learn that Kadri shoots left and Bozak shoots right, yet he almost always confused these two players. Posters here who obsess over hockey obviously aren't relying on the commentator to know who is who, but Romanuk was very confusing to someone like my dad who doesn't watch hockey obsessively enough to memorise player numbers, etc. And I'm sure that there are many casual fans in a similar boat.

Mike Bobcat was my favourite.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Thank God Romanuk is gone. He is the worst pbp guy I have ever had the displeasure of listening to for any Toronto team. Yes, worse than Rob Faulds, worse than Jamie Campbell. Really f***ing bad.

 

[Cor]

I saw a poster or two say he called Marlies games in the past? May be less of an enemy and more just following the money in a competitive market. Bob Cole is a Habs fan but that didn’t keep him from being unbiased and a great play caller.

Just because someone used to follow another team other than the Leafs, doesn't mean they can't be good at calling Leaf games.

Someone doesn't need to be Joe Bowen to be good.

John Bartlett is one of those guys.

 

[HandshakeLineRespect]

Romanuks "Romanuk-isms" were also annoying, weird, and just plain cringe worthy. "Holy Snapping Eyeballs," "Eyes like a panther," "Shooting," "Serpentines through the middle," etc. He was just bad at what he did.

This.

I don’t know how many times I thought to my self, why the hell does this goof always make some weird animal analogy? It’s like he’s treating his viewers like little children reading us a kids zoo book. I’m so pumped he’s gone.

 

[Liminality]

Just because someone used to follow another team other than the Leafs, doesn't mean they can't be good at calling Leaf games.

Someone doesn't need to be Joe Bowen to be good.

John Bartlett is one of those guys.

He seems pretty professional and no nonsense type of guy. He doesn't need to oversell me on broadcasting the game, just call it properly and I'll be happy.

 

[The Best Leafs Ever]

I wonder if one of the conditions was to not call out wrong names. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was. Haha

 

[crump]

He's confident in his calls, pretty straight laced but at this point I just want competency. The "eyes blazing like a panther" type calls were pretty hilarious to make fun of, but I think the Leafs will be entertaining enough without the "Bullseye" and other over the top calls.

 

[ashs]

Johnson is great. He's next in line behind Ferraro IMO.

So Bartlett, this dude is a fan of the enemy. But is he a good PBP guy?

Pretty sure Ferraro does TSN broadcasting. He's great though.

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

This seems like a big upgrade to me.

Wonder who his partner will be?

Also, do we know that he's a Habs fan (not that it matters) or just assuming?

So glad no more Romanuk and now we just have to bare Hughson on Saturdays, big improvement IMO!

 

[Warden of the North]

I have to think that Romanuk would still be here if it wasnt for the Chychrun mistake.

Thats a totally unacceptable mistake to make.

 

[Peiskos]

Anyone is an improvement over Romanuk.

I’m okay with John Bartlett.

 

[MyBudJT]

I have to think that Romanuk would still be here if it wasnt for the Chychrun mistake.

Thats a totally unacceptable mistake to make.

Even if he wasn't mistaken, its not a topic a hockey play-by-play guy should be talking about...

 

[thewave]

Wow! what a huge promotion for Bartlett! That's just amazing for him, I mean what a huuuuge career upgrade.

Good caster too!

 

[lifelonghockeyfan]

Not bad.

I recall him doing a good job with the Marlies but understandably took the opportunity to call NHL games for TSN Habs. Now he's back "home".

Well he did the Marlies games, and then the Habs games. Now he gets to call the games for NHL team. Sorry, I couldn't resist the obvious punchline.

 

[81Leafs50]

THIS IS GARBAGE! Bartlett is worse anyone tv at the moment.

 

[BM14]

Such a minor league voice. Brutal.

His voice sounds like it was on The Fan 1430.

 

[MapleLeafs9]

Preview of Bartlett calling a Kadri goal.

A lot better than SCYERRRSSSSS

 

[Leafidelity]

This is great news. He seems to call a fairly unbiased game. I can't recall hearing him grate on me doing Habs games.

 

[go_leafs_go02]

So it's confirmed Romanuk is moving elsewhere. Didn't mind him too much, but think Bartlett will be better.

 

[killer1980]

Voice sounds like yet another Sportsnet blunder.

 

[I am Canadian]

Good on Sportsnet and Rogers to actually respect their customers wishes. Feels weird to say that.

Good job everyone who sent emails requesting this

 

[Goonface2k14]

Kind of sounds a little like Jiggs McDonald, for those who remember him stepping in short term many years ago.