Corporate Changes

Over the years at Rogers Sportsnet prior to the network acquiring the rights to NHL hockey and all its properties, there was solid talent who started to make inroads as competent, capable, and knowledgeable analysts. One of my favorite shows to watch was Hockey Central at Noon thanks, in large part, to Daren Millard who I had watched on sportscasts locally while he was a member of Winnipeg's media community. With the inclusion of an improving Nick Kypreos, who had been honing his talent at Sportsnet on both TV and radio, the show had at least one analyst who had played the game. The addition of former NHL general manager and coach Doug MacLean was a bit of a wild card on the show, but MacLean at least could play devil's advocate to Kypreos' analysis. In short, the show was structured well.

News came out of the Toronto today that none of these men would be returning to Rogers Sportsnet this year. While I understand Rogers Sportsnet is going through some restructuring to find profitability on their television side, sacrificing true talent in these men seems a little drastic. Of course, contract negotiations can result in one or both parties walking away from the negotiating table, and it seems that all three of Millard, Kypreos, and MacLean will seek employment elsewhere on better deals than perhaps what was offered.

Millard's announcement came at the beginning of August, and I found this one to be a strange move considering he's spent two decades with the company. Millard has done both radio and TV for Rogers Sportsnet, and his versatility seemed to make him rather easy to move into roles that may need a seasoned broadcaster. He was, in my view, one of Sportnet's best broadcasters, and his decision to move on was a bit of a head-scratcher from a broadcasting standpoint.

Perhaps, as it seems, that was the beginning of the exodus.

I understand the new for companies to profit. It's kind of how the entire monetary system works. The issue is that the price of those profits is often talent. It happens in all industries where CEOs and Boards of Directors decide to thin their workforce because profits slipped a fraction of a percentage point, and the shareholders have to be satiated rather than asking why this happens. I'm not here to set up Economics Blog in Canada, but the end result is that very good, hard-working, talented people decide that the pay cuts or lesser salaries they're offered doesn't equate to the loyalty they have for the brand and the efforts they've put in to make it as good as it is today. Again, it happens everywhere, and talent will find new places to work by people who are willing to pay them what they seek.

Nick Kypreos will undoubtedly land back on television somewhere as he has connections, he's informed, he's played the game at the NHL level, and he had become one of the more refined panelists on Sportnet in any hockey discussion. All of that talent and experience will lead to him finding employment somewhere. Perhaps he'll end up on a regional television station as an analyst or with a national brand such as the NHL Network. What should be clear is that Nick Kypreos will be able to choose what job he wants next as opposed to seeking a job in hockey broadcasting.

Doug MacLean seems like he'll have a bit of a harder time finding broadcasting work, but I have a feeling that, after working in the United States as a general manager and coach, he'll likely end up doing television in the US. MacLean's experience in the game is something that can't be overlooked even if his opinions on Sportsnet were sometimes mocked, but MacLean brings a perspective that is unique to most panels in working with expansion teams. Seattle seems like a bit of a stretch when it comes to MacLean's next position, but it might make sense if they're looking for a guy who has been through the expansion process for their television broadcasts.

An era at Sportsnet is over as Hockey Central at Noon will certainly have a new feel after three of the main cogs on that show have left. Kypreos' contributions on Hockey Night in Canada shouldn't be overlooked either as he was a valuable contributor there, but that opens a chair for someone new to step in and hone his or her craft. As it stands, Sportsnet is less today than what it was yesterday.

An era ends. A new one begins. Such is change.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!