Getting the house ready for the next season?
UPDATE: Following yesterday night’s revelation that Sportsnet had decided not to extend Kelly Hrudey’s contract for 2026-27, there are reports that Rogers, Sportsnet’s parent company, is not finished slashing its on-air talent.
“I was informed on June 19 that my contract would not be renewed for the next season,” Hrudey stated in a video that he uploaded to his official X account. “Big adjustments in my life.”
From Hrudey directly:
Rogers and Sportsnet are definitely going through a public relations rollercoaster this summer.
Following recent announcements of a price increase, reduced service, and the complete cancellation of numerous local radio stations, Sportsnet is once again being criticized for its handling of longtime broadcaster Kelly Hrudey.
Hrudey posted on social media last night that his Sportsnet contract was not renewed, and that this would be the first season since 1998 that he wouldn’t be involved in Hockey Night in Canada or local Calgary Flames broadcasts.
Hrudey has been a regular on Sportsnet’s airwaves since 2014, but he began as an analyst for CBC right after retiring from playing in the late 1990s. He has since developed into a fan favorite for his knowledge, especially regarding goaltending. He informed fans that he does not intend to retire just yet, even though he is jobless for the next season. Not on these conditions, at least.
I simply have one question…
How can Jen Botterill and Ron MacLean still have their jobs if Hrudey is gone?
The period of MacLean’s life has passed. He used to be such a fantastic foil to Don Cherry, but these days he’s just a dry straight-man with no sidekick. Botterill is just as bland, and maybe twice as boring.
Fans are now responding to Hrudey’s dismissal, and almost everyone agrees that they are dissatisfied. Indeed, the majority of fans seem to agree with me and are calling for Botterill’s and MacLean’s resignations on social media.
It will be interesting to see what other modifications to Sportsnet’s broadcast staff occur before the 2026–27 NHL season begins. Stay tuned.
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