ESPN’s NHL commentator team will feature an unprecedented roster of talented and diverse play-by-play announcers, analysts and reporters as the Stanley Cup Final, Playoffs and NHL regular season come to ABC, ESPN, ESPN+ and Hulu this fall.
- ESPN’s play-by-play commentary will be led by the award-winning Sean McDonough, with Steve Levy leading the studio team and calling several games throughout the season.
- John Buccigross, Bob Wischusen and Leah Hextall will also add their voices to play-by-play.
- The versatile Hextall was part of ESPN’s NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship and World Cup of Hockey coverage since 2016, and she will also serve as a reporter for some games throughout the season.
- Showcasing a diverse and unparalleled mix of experience and hockey credentials, ESPN’s NHL analyst team boasts a collective nine Stanley Cups, 10 Olympic medals and three collegiate national championships.
- Hockey Hall of Famers Mark Messier and Chris Chelios are part of a lineup who have proven their stardom both on the ice and on the air, including:
- Ray Ferraro
- Brian Boucher
- Cassie Campbell-Pascall
- Kevin Weekes
- Ryan Callahan
- A.J. Mleczko
- Rick DiPietro
- Hilary Knight
- Former NHL player and coach, and ESPN legend, Barry Melrose
- ESPN newcomer Blake Bolden, along with Emily Kaplan and Greg Wyshynski, will handle reporting duties.
- Hall of Fame sportscaster Linda Cohn will continue to host In the Crease, the signature nightly hockey program on ESPN+, during the NHL season, in addition to anchoring SportsCenter and contributing to NHL coverage and programming across platforms.
- ESPN Deportes’ Kenneth Garay and Eitán Benezra while handle play-by-play commentary with Carlos Rossell and Antonio Valle contributing analysis and color commentary for NHL games on ESPN Deportes.
What they’re saying:
- Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman of ESPN and Sports Content: “This new and groundbreaking lineup will bring the NHL to an expanding legion of passionate fans. We set out to put together a roster that would excite, engage and educate the entire range of fans – from diehard to casual – while inspiring the next generation. With this lineup, we believe we have done just that. We could not be more excited to welcome this talented and diverse group to the ESPN hockey family.”
ESPN and NHL seven-year television, streaming and media rights deal:
- The new deal is highlighted by:
- Exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Final on ABC in four of the seven years of the agreement, with the ability to simulcast/megacast on ESPN+ and additional ESPN networks
- The return of live NHL action to ESPN networks with 25 exclusive national regular-season games on ABC or ESPN
- 75 national regular-season games per season produced by ESPN that will stream exclusively on both ESPN+ and Hulu;
- Half of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on ABC and ESPN each season
- Coverage annually of NHL’s Face-off (opening night games), the NHL All-Star Game and Skills Challenge, plus other NHL special events each season.