That’s…Bruins hockey child?
Bruins play-by-play announcer Jack Edwards introduced his retirement as we speak after 17 years with Boston, opening some of the prestigious jobs in all of hockey broadcasting. In accordance with yyzsportsmedia, the Bruins are stealing away John Forslund as their play-by-play announcer.
Forslund is solely top-of-the-line within the enterprise, if not the one greatest. Once I was interning with the Colorado Avalanche radio group within the late 90s, we might discuss who the perfect broadcasters have been across the NHL. My mentor Mike Haynes talked about “this man down in Carolina” and I made a word of Carolina Man. Carolina Man was very, excellent.
Now Carolina Man is Seattle Man. However is Seattle Man about to grow to be Boston Man?
Explanation why Forslund would possibly need to go
John Forslund grew up in Springfield, MA, about 90 miles from Boston. When he was a child, he would flip the quantity down on Bruins video games and he would do play-by-play whereas his dad did colour commentary. Who wouldn’t at the very least significantly think about a job calling video games to your childhood group and the place you grew up?
There may be additionally actual status in calling an unique six group. I feel the unique six factor is basically overblown, however individuals prefer to designate Further Particular Standing to these six groups (Boston, NY Rangers, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Detroit) they usually have much more cache than the opposite 26 groups. I don’t find it irresistible, however it’s what it’s.
And let’s face it — proper now at the very least, hockey is way much less well-liked in Seattle than it’s in Boston. It’s only a bigger market with much more eyeballs. Perhaps in 10 years when the Kraken have received 3 Cups that may change, however for now that’s the place stand.
Explanation why Forslund would possibly need to keep
The Kraken are a top-notch, A+ group that treats everybody extraordinarily properly. The Kraken are an thrilling new group and the town has embraced Forslund. He may not need to transfer once more after a number of years.
Seattle can be not an inexpensive group, whereas the Bruins will be. The Bruins have cheaped out a little bit prior to now by not sending their announcers on the highway, as a substitute having them name highway video games from a studio watching off a monitor. Forslund appears very specific about his craft, and I can not think about he can be comfortable doing highway video games in Boston calling off a monitor.
They’re sending their announcers on the highway once more this yr, nevertheless it does spotlight the distinction between some penny-pinching Bruins possession and the “we offers you no matter you want at no matter value” perspective of the Kraken possession.
On Sunday through the pancake breakfast, he did discuss wanting to remain right here in Seattle. The rumors have been swirling round this since at the very least March, so he’s presumably conscious of this. I don’t assign numerous weight to these kind of public feedback. It’s not that I feel John is being duplicitous, however have you ever ever been proud of a scenario, after which a terrific alternative opens up?
It will probably each be true that John loves Seattle with no intention of leaving and likewise would take the Boston job if provided to him.
Who would change him if he did go?
Two names come to thoughts:
Everett Fitzhugh, Kraken radio announcer. He did one TV recreation with JT Brown, clearly is aware of the group and its gamers, and he’s extraordinarily good at his job. I do know Everett loves doing radio and doesn’t appear to have the aspirations to maneuver to TV that numerous radio pxp individuals have, however he can be a pure match.
Alex Faust, former Kings TV play-by-play announcer. Faust is a superb announcer whose contract wasn’t picked up by the Kings as a result of the Kings have been having actual issues with their regional sports activities networks. It doesn’t appear to be based mostly on efficiency, as a result of Faust is implausible. He does TNT broadcasts typically, together with the newest Kraken recreation Sunday morning.
Faust was one of many names introduced up by Alex Trebek to interchange him because the host of Jeopardy! He’s at present performing some play-by-play for the…Boston Bruins.
Hey, what a pure alternative for Edwards! Faust doesn’t even have to vary cities. Try this, Boston.
We in all probability received’t know for positive for a number of months, however there’s a superb likelihood that tonight’s recreation in opposition to the Jets is the final broadcast John Forslund does for the Seattle Kraken.
