It is a miserable juxtaposition this week that Red Wings fans are celebrating much-appreciated broadcaster Paul Woods Michigan Hall of Fame selection while Columbus Blue Jackets fans are saddened and angered by a team decision not to renew the contract of long-time radio broadcaster Bob McElligott.
The Blue Jackets have joined the group of NHL teams that will simulcast the TV feed for the radio broadcast. That group includes the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues and now Columbus. The New York Islanders still have a dedicated radio team, but uses the TV feed for select games.
This comes at a time when sports teams are reviewing the importance of their radio deals. For example, beloved Toronto broadcaster Joe Bowen retired after 44 years of excellence. But in his last season, the team stopped sending him on the road.
He called games from watch them on television in studio.
Detroit fans are fortunate that the Red Wings are still following the traditional model of separate broadcast teams for radio and television. It certainly helps that Mickey Redmond’s popularity is off the charts. Redmond and superb play-by-plan man Ken Daniels are considered the No. 1 local NHL broadcast team.
Radio broadcaster Ken Kal also has a passionate following, as did Woods. Here’s hoping the plan is to name another analyst, and the Red Wings continue the traditional approach of separate radio and TV teams.
Red Wings Extra
The Detroit Red Wings didn’t make Sportsnet’s ranking of the top five U25 core groups in the NHL today. Montreal was No. 1, followed in order by the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers. Honorable mentions were the Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild.
The Red Wings’ core group at U25 (under the Sportsnet criteria) is Moritz Seider (25), Simon Edvinsson (23), Albert Johansson (25), Lucas Raymond (24), Marco Kasper (22), Emmitt Finnie (21). That is a desirable group.