Who are the best and worst announcers in the NHL?

Question

Please don't be biased towards your team.
Best
1) Jim Hughson
2) Ray Ferraro
3) Darren Pang(Panger)
Worst
1) Mike Emrick
2) Jim Lorenz
3) Chico Resch

Answer 1

Best
1) Bob Miller for the Los Angeles Kings has won many awards.(He very rarely makes a mistake)
2) Bill Clement
3) Gary Thorne
Worst
1) Bob Cole
2) Harry Neale
3) The Anaheim Duck announcers (names?) SUCK!!! They always get the players names wrong, the color commentator is terrible and they never give credit to the opposing teams. For example just this weekend, the Ducks and Kings played. The Kings player, Alexander Frolov, re-directed a puck shot from the point into the net. He used the shaft of his stick while skating backward. The Duck announcers went on to say that it was a cheesy goal. I don't know if they have played hockey before, but that takes a lot of skill and hand-eye coordination!

Sorry but I only watch the Kings and Ducks because I live in L.A. On occasion I will watch the other teams.

Answer 2

Wow. You don't like Mike Emrick!? That's your perogative, but I am just amazed. He is one of the all-time most popular announcers in hockey history. You said "don't be biased towards your team." I can't help but wonder if your dislike of Emrick has anything to do with all those Devils games he used to do, Mr. NYR21!! Maybe that is why Chico Resch is on your "worst" list, too. It's all a matter of personal taste, though.

My personal favorites:
1. Dave Strader.
2. Mike Emrick (sorry, NYR21)
3. Gary Thorne (please, Mr. Bettman, get the NHL back on freakin' ESPN!!)

Worse:
1. Whoever the heck is the weirdo that does the Tampa Bay Lightning radio broadcast. It is like listening to a combination of the late comedian Sam Kinison and a dying goat.
2. Aw, crud. I can't remember his name. ESPN used to have this guy that was sooooo dull, he sounded like a bored Ben Stein. You'd never know he was watching a sporting event and not talking about his stamp collection or something.
3. Any announcer that is such a homer that he blames the referees for everything that goes wrong for his team. I hate announcers who do that. Don't have a problem with them being homers, but at least make SOME effort to act objective!

Technically, Darren Pang, Chico Resch, and Ray Ferraro are not announcers. They are analysts. It is different. Aw, close enough. I'm being nit-picky. Anyway, I thought this was a great question!

Answer 3

Great question, which needs several answers.

BEST:
1.Jim Hughson has a great "radio voice, and is the most articulate.
2. Rick Jeanneret (Sabres) can make any game exciting.
3. Mike Emerick is both enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
4. On radio, Dan Rusanowsky (Sharks) is exciting, articulate, knowledgeable, knows how to pronounce difficult names (Which Don Cherry can't).

WORST:
You don't appreciate Emerick, but he's the only "announcer" in your "worst" list. The others are color commentators (as are Ferraro and Pang). These are almost always retired hockey players who know hockey, but can't call a game. Worst announcer I've heard is the guy who announces the Coyotes games.

Answer 4

I miss John Davidson. I like Chico a lot myself. So many of the best are former goaltenders, why is that, eh? I'm partial to Ray Ferraro.

Versus instead of ESPN was a very bad move for the NHL -- but hey, no more Barry Melrose!

Answer 5

Pang is good. Ferraro is pretty good too.

Mike Emrick is terrible.

But Darryl Reaugh on Versus and on the broadcast team in Dallas (his partner there is good too, Strangis is his name I think who once worked in the Caps organization) is the best, hands down.

To babywarth, this is just my opinion. I don't like Emrick and he tires me out. And just because he has won an emmy does not change my opinion... lots of hacks win emmies. Oh and I didn't say he sucked, I said he is terrible... now I am tired that I spent so much time of my life discussing Mike Emrick. I need a drink.

Answer 6

Jim Lorenz is not the play-by play announcer for the Sabres, that would be Rick Jeanerette. Jim Lorenz is the color commentator.

I don't even know who the Ducks have for them anymore. I liked it when it was Brian Haywood and and Chris Madsen.

Answer 7

Mike Emrick rock!

i did love Ken Wilson when he did the Blues...O Baby!

Answer 8

to jeff s. mike "doc" emerick has been nominated for an emmy for play-by-play so obviously he can't suck. he ahs major contracts with versus and nbc to do all of their games. and i think doc is awesome along with chico. i think the islanders announcer and buffalo's announcers are horrible

Answer 9

Ducks Announcers

Answer 10

The Best-
Bob Miller (HOF)

The Worst-
Brain Hayward (the worst in any sport)