NHL on TNT's panel calling a game on Wednesday wasn't planned. But Adam Proteau discusses whether it should be experimented with more in the future. A view from a radio broadcast position of the game between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes in the first period roadcasters during the 2023 Stadium Series ice hockey game at Carter-Finley Stadium. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzNzQ0MDk0MzM2Nzg4MDMy/usatsi_20031251.jpg] A view from a radio broadcast position of the game between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes in the first period roadcasters during the 2023 Stadium Series ice hockey game at Carter-Finley Stadium. As some say, “necessity is the mother of invention.” And that’s what we saw Wednesday night during NHL on TNT’s broadcast of the Detroit Red Wings and Florida Panthers game. TNT chose to use their broadcast panellists as the game-callers for the Florida and Detroit game, as the usual play-by-play and color analysts who had been scheduled to work the Buffalo Sabres and Chicago Blackhawks tilt Wednesday had the game postponed to Thursday [https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-chicago-blackhawks-game-rescheduled-january-17-2024] due to inclement weather in Western New York. The end result was a neat little event that saw former player personalities Paul Bissonnette, Anson Carter, Henrik Lundqvist and host Liam McHugh do the entire game from the studio. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W2FSBA_MOM[/embed] The best part was the four panellists playing off one another, and that’s something you rarely, if ever, see in a game. We’re accustomed to waiting until intermission to hear from panellists, but that’s not an iron-clad rule from the hockey gods. Things can and should evolve. To wit: Imagine how much better it would be if the four voices had a few days of advance notice they’d be calling a game. Spontaneity is part of the appeal here, but let’s say, once or twice a season, the league’s play-by-play and color analysts switched places with a studio panel. We’d see each group breathe new life into what can be a slow and occasionally monotonous grind in the NHL’s regular season. Who knows, maybe the studio panellists discover they’re just as happy and effective calling games. We’d be in a place where unfamiliar elements affect the game differently, and the end product of in-game entertainment would get some shiny newness to it. The MLB's Atlanta Braves have already tried a version of four alumni calling a game [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STUGNGHpBrk], and there’s no good reason the NHL can’t do the same. It would take some adjusting for viewers, but the uniqueness of the changed setup would be the key selling point. Maybe you try it out at an NHL outdoor game. Or maybe the right place for it is the All-Star Game. There are many possibilities to consider, but ultimately, the innovation involved would be what’s front and center, and if it doesn’t work out as a regular occurrence, you can at least be proud you tried something new. It doesn’t matter that the NHL has stumbled across this new wrinkle for broadcasts. What matters is it’s a solid idea worth building on. Here’s hoping the people involved recognize the opportunity that’s now in front of them and make the most of it.
