Ryan Wilson: The Doc is out The Doc is out

Big fan of Doc and he will be missed. As for the broadcast, I don’t hate it and thought Brian Boucher was very good between the glass this year.

He couldn't just write a nice tribute. RW must be the biggest killjoy to hang around.

I know not everyone on here liked him, but he was tied for my favorite sportscaster across all the sports I watch tied with Mark Zumoff. I’m gonna really miss him, and disappointed Kenny Albert is the heir apparent. I don’t hate Albert, I just find him to be incredibly boring, and following a guy like Doc, that’s gonna be a huge swing.

I definitely could see ESPN making a huge push for the NHL rights. They already offer a big package of games on ESPN+ and I’d love it if we could start seeing Bucci call games. It’s always an absolute treat having him on the call during college hockey games and the Frozen Four, even if that means Barry Melrose on color.

I know no everyone on here liked him, but he was tied for my favorite sportscaster across all the sports I watch tied with Mark Zumoff. I’m gonna really miss him, and disappointed Kenny Albert is the heir apparent. I don’t hate Albert, I just find him to be incredibly boring, and following a guy like Doc, that’s gonna be a huge swing.

I definitely could see ESPN making a huge push for the NHL rights. They already offer a big package of games on ESPN+ and I’d love it if we could start seeing Bucci call games. It’s always an absolute treat having him on the call during college hockey games and the Frozen Four, even if that means Barry Melrose on color.
- Victoro311

Albert is very dry.

Love Doc. All the best to him.

When does the NBC contract come up? Forslund might do well to not lock himself into a long term deal with anyone until we know who gets the national broadcasts.

He couldn't just write a nice tribute. RW must be the biggest killjoy to hang around.
- Rinosaur

Right!?

He couldn't just write a nice tribute. RW must be the biggest killjoy to hang around.
- Rinosaur

Why would you want a nice tribute to a guy who is mediocre at best and part of a genuinely awful broadcast team?

He couldn't just write a nice tribute. RW must be the biggest killjoy to hang around.
- Rinosaur

At least he didn't use it as an opportunity to blast Doc like he did when GMJR made the HoF.

Looks like GMJR wants to bring in someone on the mgmt side of the house this week ...and not Botterrill

Sorry to see Doc leaving but I hope he enjoys his retirement.

The very last thing I want is for ESPN to have anything at all do with the NHL. I don't even want them to summarize NHL games much less broadcast them live. I will take NBC's worst play by play guy and their collection of bozo color guys if it means that ESPN does not get any NHL broadcasting rights. NBC may be bad but ESPN is much, much, much worse. ESPN may even ruin the game for me as they will likely push the NHL to become more political and then they will spend 90% of their time talking about these political issues and only 10% on the actual games themselves. The issue of broadcasters is much bigger than just the play-by-play guy.

Typically, when the TV broadcast gets really bad I switch to radio. Between using a DVR and a similar type of device I have for radio I can sync up the radio broadcast with the TV, getting the best of both worlds and with Mike Lange doing the play-by-play (but he is not doing them all anymore).

RW still finds a way to complain about something in a blog lol. It's actually impressive at this point.

Why would you want a nice tribute to a guy who is mediocre at best and part of a genuinely awful broadcast team?
- BINGO!

I enjoyed the way he called games.

Best Wishes to Doc...I always enjoyed his work. He may be the last public figure to openly admit he was a Pirates fan... "Big Drive......Score!"

I hope we NEVER EVER EVER EVER get to hear Gary Thorne call another game. I couldnt disagree more strongly with RW on this one. What an awful experience that would be.... He was so far behind most plays, overly dramatic, and extremely biased--especially if it involved the Rangers...
I can remember a game with the Pens where the Pens threw everything and the kitchen sink at Richter--hitting the post twice within 4 seconds, and Gary's call was "save Richter. Save Richter. What a Save by Richter!" Less than 30 seconds later, play went the other way and Messier was robbed by Ken Wregget....Thorne's call: "Messier shoots it wide". He would get really excited when one team scored and not as excited if the other scored... I hated having to listen to him call games.... Compare to Doc, and you really couldnt say he was rooting for one team over another....
Hopefully NBC makes a great choice...one that is NOT Gary Thorne

I enjoyed the way he called games.
- Rinosaur

that's because something is broken in your head

When does the NBC contract come up? Forslund might do well to not lock himself into a long term deal with anyone until we know who gets the national broadcasts.
- BINGO!

hahaha

I ran into Bob Cole at a gas station right before Covid hit. He was a voice of my childhood. His quality of broadcast certainly went down in the latter years, to be expected of people in the 80's though I guess haha.

I actually think Mearsy with the Pens is pretty decent. Much better than Stiegy.

that's because something is broken in your head
- BINGO!

That's besides the point.

RW still finds a way to complain about something in a blog lol. It's actually impressive at this point.
- LeafsPain54

And you're complaining about complaining each time he does it now.

And you're complaining about complaining each time he does it now.
- MattStrat

Do you always have to complain about other people complaining about complaining?

I enjoyed the way he called games.
- Rinosaur

I appreciated his enthusiasm at times, other times it made me want to turn off the channel. He had major Caps bias the past 10/15 years and he never ever seemed to be that knowledgeable on the game often asking color commentators questions he should know the answers to.

This of course is all my opinion and I believe that there are far worse announcers out there than Doc.

Do you always have to complain about other people complaining about complaining?
- Rinosaur

Mine wasnt complaining.

Mine wasnt complaining.
- MattStrat

It was joke, man.

It was joke, man.
- Rinosaur

I enjoyed the way he called games.
- Rinosaur

Don't listen to the no-fun club who hate Doc. They have no fun.