Rip The Mesh Posted July 25 Posted July 25 Retired former Vancouver Canucks skaters Ryan Kesler and Michael Del Zotto were among the nine players who took part in the inaugural NHL Broadcast Training Camp last week. Kesler, in particular, would likely be looking to follow in the footsteps of his long-time Canucks teammate Kevin Bieksa, who has become an award-winning broadcaster with CBC and Sportsnet since retiring from the NHL in 2018. Bieksa and Kesler played together with the Canucks from 2005 to 2014, and then with the Anaheim Ducks from 2015 to 2018. Together, they helped the Canucks win the Presidents’ Trophy in back-to-back years and reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2011. Garnet Hathaway, Erik Johnson, Chris Wagner, Nate Thompson, Devante Smith-Pelly, and Darius Kasparaitis also participated in the inaugural camp. Del Zotto was highly complimentary of the experience and said he’d recommend it to any of his former teammates. “I’d say it’s a no-brainer,” Del Zotto, who played for the Canucks from 2017 to 2019, told NHL.com. “It’s a positive experience. They should get here. It’s a great learning experience.” The collection of current and retired players attended the event at the NHL offices in Manhattan on July 17, which included “modules geared toward game preparation and study, reporting, studio work, and social media and podcasting,” according to the league. Former Canuck and current New York Rangers goaltender Louis Domingue also participated in the camp, which featured instruction from NHL broadcasters Kenny Albert, Steve Levy, Ashlyn Sullivan, and former players-turned-broadcasters Eddie Olczyk and Brian Boucher. “We went to our clubs and we looked for candidates, players who may want to transition into broadcasting hockey as one avenue of kind of post-career opportunity, as part of a broader umbrella for us of providing player development resources so players can start thinking about life off the ice and what follows their hockey careers,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Thursday. Quote
Snoop Hogg Posted July 25 Posted July 25 Good God. Remember the podcast Kesler did with Juice? He was awful. He truly needs a broadcast training camp. 1 Quote
6of1_halfdozenofother Posted July 25 Posted July 25 Waiting for Jarkko Ruutu to join with fellow countryman Esa Tikkanen. 1 Quote
Snoop Hogg Posted July 25 Posted July 25 7 minutes ago, 6of1_halfdozenofother said: Waiting for Jarkko Ruutu to join with fellow countryman Esa Tikkanen. How about Corey Schneider and Jannick Hansen? 2 1 1 Quote
Rip The Mesh Posted July 25 Author Posted July 25 I wanna see what Kes has got! If it turns out to be a launch pad; All the better. Tell yah this much; The HNIC Board (other then Bieksa) Stinks; In my oh so humble opinion. 2 1 Quote
King Heffy Posted July 25 Posted July 25 Sportsnet should have sent the entire HNIC team there to be taught how to conduct themselves like professionals. 1 1 Quote
Snoop Hogg Posted July 25 Posted July 25 7 minutes ago, King Heffy said: Sportsnet should have sent the entire HNIC team there to be taught how to conduct themselves like professionals. Especially Gazdic! Quote
6of1_halfdozenofother Posted July 25 Posted July 25 7 minutes ago, King Heffy said: Sportsnet should have sent the entire HNIC team there to be taught how to conduct themselves like professionals. Just now, Snoop Hogg said: Especially Gazdic! It's the League that's hosting this. I wouldn't put too much hope given present management there. Quote
King Heffy Posted July 25 Posted July 25 1 minute ago, Snoop Hogg said: Especially Gazdic! Gazdic shouldn't be even allowed the opportunity. Let him rot in Edmonton with the rest of that inbred fanbase. Quote
King Heffy Posted July 25 Posted July 25 2 minutes ago, 6of1_halfdozenofother said: It's the League that's hosting this. I wouldn't put too much hope given present management there. The guys they have running it are all capable of conducting themselves appropriately. It couldn't possibly make the HNIC crew worse. Quote
Jess Posted July 25 Posted July 25 Lmao Kesler's about as entertaining as a brick wall. I'll be impressed if he can get better at that skill. 1 1 1 Quote
DeltaSwede Posted July 25 Posted July 25 Not sure that broadcasting is the way to go for RK17.. Bieksa is a natural. Kes will always be that tall guy with a terrible haircut. 1 Quote
Bell Posted July 26 Posted July 26 No offense to Kesler but he really doesn't have the personality or likeability of Bieksa. Bieksa is a special talent. He looks like the pro on Saturday night hockey with guys who have been doing it years. Good luck Kesler but you just don't have Kevin's charisma Quote
Pears Posted July 26 Posted July 26 6 hours ago, Snoop Hogg said: How about Corey Schneider and Jannick Hansen? Little bit of Jannik Hansen never hurt anyone 1 Quote
Snoop Hogg Posted July 26 Posted July 26 21 minutes ago, GrammaInTheTub said: Next up Monotone-han The boring Sean Monahan twitter account is comedy gold. Quote
Theo5789 Posted July 26 Posted July 26 Do they practice how often they can praise McDavid in a 30 second span during this training camp? 1 Quote
King Heffy Posted July 26 Posted July 26 17 hours ago, Bell said: No offense to Kesler but he really doesn't have the personality or likeability of Bieksa. Bieksa is a special talent. He looks like the pro on Saturday night hockey with guys who have been doing it years. Good luck Kesler but you just don't have Kevin's charisma The bar isn't set that high. Kesler would still be an upgrade over vermin like Gazdic. 1 Quote
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