Welcome back from the NHL All-Star Game break. NBCSN starts out with the Winnipeg Jets in Philadelphia but don't expect a real national telecast. The post-ASG break pattern is a simulcast of the Philadelphia announcers on what might as well be a local telecast.
The NHL will slowly build back from the break. Winnipeg is the only Canadian team playing between now and Friday: 3 times vs. 0 for the rest of the Canadian teams.
ESPN+ will have the other Winnipeg Jets games this week.
NBCSN
Monday
Winnipeg @ Philadelphia, 7p
NHL Network
Tape delayed
Tuesday Winnipeg @ Philadelphia, 2:30p (90-min.)
Wednesday Winnipeg @ Boston, 2p
ESPN+
Tuesday
Winnipeg @ Boston, 7p
Thursday
Columbus @ Winnipeg, 8p
We don't talk about PK Subban much anymore since he left the Montréal Canadiens for Nashville. NBC Sports interest in Subban grew significantly since he now plays for a U.S. team.
The forces have combined for an online series called The PK Project. Subban's personality comes across well in the preview. Imagine how much more fun the program would be by showing off one of the best cities in North America would be instead of showing off Nashville.
The opening episode debuted last Wednesday and subsequent episodes will drop digitally on Wednesdays. The premiere episode takes us to Subban's world in his hometown of Toronto.
NBCSN also ran a All-Star special last Friday called Pucks with PK following the skills competition where he interviewed NHL stars and entertainers.
Subban didn't get more animated after leaving Canada. Watching the U.S. media get excited about Subban and Erik Karlsson only after they left Canada is very discouraging. They loved the players but worked hard not to showcase them while they were wearing the sweater of a Canadian-based team.
The NHL has grown into different ways that separate the U.S. and Canadian teams. The separation makes this beat as much fun as hitting my head against the wall.
Edmonton Oilers fans got their long-time wish granted with the firing of GM Peter Chiarelli. Assistant GM Keith Gretzky, brother of Wayne, takes over as interim GM.
Chiarelli made some key horrible deals. Until the desperation gets reduced, things won't change much.
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NBC Sports normally give us the top crew on Wednesday nights. With the All-Star Game out west, NBC sent those announcers out west. We got Gord Miller and Ray Ferraro (and unfortunately Brian Boucher). 2 against 1 is rare and beautiful and welcome versus a lot of what we have had.
We have seen more than our share of American hometown announcers call Edmonton games on NBCSN this season. This one had a more pleasant twist. Ken Daniels calls Detroit Red Wings as his day job. NBCSN put Daniels on last Tuesday's game. But here is the difference. Ray Ferraro worked the game to give balance. And Daniels is really good at what he does.
We've offered up suggestions in the past where the announcers are split. There could be fun in that like when NBC used hometown announcers in the World Series in the 1970s.
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Those in the New York and Boston areas did get Hockey Night in Canada with the Winnipeg Jets in Dallas. With John Bartlett and Greg Millen covering Hometown Hockey, Rogers reached deep in the cabinet with R.J. Broadhead covering Ottawa and Kevin Quinn calling the Jets game. We get Broadhead since Rogers has little love for the Ottawa Senators. Quinn ranks a distant third behind Rick Ball and John Shorthouse to cover the gaps.
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ESPN+ had another Hockey Night in Canada game but without Hockey Night in Canada coverage. Watching another Philadelphia feed instead of Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson was like eating generic hamburger instead of a prime steak.
ESPN+ had the first 2 meetings of the Battle of Alberta, but NHL.TV had the latest battle on Saturday as a free game. The service offers intermission coverage, an advantage over ESPN+. NHL.TV was rather sloppy getting back to the coverage from commercial breaks at least in that game.
Twitter capture: @NHLonNBCSports