ESPN Fires Chris Chelios From NHL Coverage
ESPN is looking for talent to slash in the wake of the new Pat McAfee contract. Layoffs are coming and the first domino has fallen. Chris Chelios is out at ESPN. The former three time Norris Trophy winner is being cut from ESPN’s NHL coverage.
Front Office Sports was the first to report the news:
“Chris Chelios won’t return next NHL season as an in-studio hockey analyst, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Front Office Sports. The Hall of Fame defenseman’s contract is not being renewed, said sources. His departure had nothing to do with his performance. But it was part of ESPN’s examination of talent contracts this month.”
Since ESPN won the NHL’s broadcasting rights, Chelios has been part of their coverage being hired in the first year of that deal. They can say that it wasn’t because of performance but I don’t necessarily buy it. The TNT broadcast is just night and day better. Chelios and Mark Messier are incredibly boring during the pregame/postgame coverage. I’m not sure how much more there is to say. TNT’s production is significantly better and ESPN should be looking to shake up their crew just on that fact alone.
The Front Office Sports post indicates way more layoffs are on the way.
“Within ESPN, there are at least ten or so untouchable talents.”
“They range from McAfee, Stephen A. Smith, Troy Aikman, Joe Buck and Kirk Herbstreit to Mike Greenberg, Scott Van Pelt, Doris Burke, Adam Schefter, and Adrian Wojnarowski. But “nearly everybody else is fair game,” warned one source.”
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