A couple days ago, ESPN released its hype video for their NHL coverage starting next season. Although we were skeptical at first for the station known as, “All LeBron James news all the time,” taking over as hockey’s main broadcasting partner, we were pleasantly surprised. Having ESPN as a partner is an instrumental step for growing the game.
ESPN looks excited to have hockey back and it looks like they are given the NHL all the love they deserve. Granted we would have liked to see Gary Throne in the mix, but it’s still an impressive lineup. Plus, it’s sure to be an improvement over what we have now.
As anyone whose watched this year’s playoffs can tell, the current broadcast partner – NBC – have kind of phoned in the rest of the playoffs. During Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals, broadcasters were even saying to each other on air, “well we only got 9 days left on our contract!” It’s bad look for the network, and the league as a whole.
As much as the hype video, for lack of a better word, “hyped,” me up, there was some things we too notice of too. The video did not show the New Jersey Devils much love, and in some cases threw some shade. Of course, this is something we’re half joking about, but here’s how ESPN did the Devils’ dirty in their video announcement.
Opening Graphic
The video opens up with the introduction that ESPN began broadcasting the NHL in 1985. Then they show a clip from a game, with a title card that has the logos of every NHL team visible. Well, that’s what they think. The New Jersey Devils logo is nowhere to be found. The Colorado Rockies’ logo is there. The Devils weren’t the only ones slighted too. The old Atlanta Flames logo is visible from before the franchise moved to Calgary.
I tried to find out where the title graphic was from, but considering it was way before my time I had no idea where to check. It’s obvious that the logo predates ESPN’s inaugural broadcast of 1985. Maybe before ESPN became a broadcast partner they used a feed from another network for a few years to broadcast games? I don’t know. All I know is that by 1985, the Flames were in Calgary and the Devils were in New Jersey.
Brian Boucher
During the dramatic, and I’ll admit very well done, introductions from their numerous broadcasters we see an extended clip of Patrik Elias. I thought to myself a second “wait, is Patrik Elias a part of this?” there were no rumors or speculation or anything, but by the way the clip played out, it looked like they were about to announce Patrik Elias.
No, it wasn’t Patrik Elias. Instead they were announcing former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Brian Boucher. The clip in question was Boucher’s stop on Elias in game three of the 2000 Eastern Conference final. I’ll give it to Boucher, it was a great save. Of course, we all know how that series ended. The Devils would go onto to win their second Stanley Cup while the Flyers were sent home after blowing a 3-1 series lead. You wouldn’t know it from that clip. ESPN played it like Boucher had just made the final stop to win a Stanley Cup.
Mark Messier
Okay we Devils’ fans have a reason not to like Mark Messier, but he’s one of the games greats. He was an amazing pick up for ESPN and an invaluable addition to their broadcast team. How did ESPN introduce Messier? With clips from his historic performance in game seven of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals over the New Jersey Devils.
Let me be clear I’m not complaining that the Devils lost, but that was the way you wanted to introduce Messier? No clips of him leading perhaps the greatest post expansion dynasty in NHL history with the Edmonton Oilers? No clips of him playing alongside the greatest player in NHL history Wayne Gretzky? Look even if you hate the New York Rangers you know how historic that 1994 cup run was. So, instead of showing Messier lifting the cup on Madison Square Garden ice with the immortal words “this will last a lifetime,” you show him scoring against a rookie Martin Brodeur?