P.K. Subban to serve as ESPN NHL analyst for rest of playoffs
New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban will work as an NHL analyst for ESPN for the remainder of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and will make his debut Wednesday night.
The 32-year-old is one of the league's most prominent personalities. He's no stranger behind the mic, either, as he hosted a hockey trivia game show during the league's pause and has appeared on Sportsnet's NHL broadcasts in the past.
Subban recorded 19 points in 44 games with the Devils last season. He still has one year left on his contract, so a full-time move to the broadcast studio anytime soon seems unlikely.
The Walt Disney Company signed a seven-year deal for half of the NHL's U.S. TV rights package starting next season. As a result, Disney-owned ESPN has ramped up its hockey coverage.
ESPN is also reportedly bringing in former goaltender and current NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes as a studio and game analyst. The company is hiring A.J. Mleczko Griswold and Ryan Callahan as analysts as well, a source told Arizona Coyotes Insider Craig Morgan.
Those personalities will join a group at ESPN that includes analysts Ray Ferraro and Brian Boucher and play-by-play broadcaster Leah Hextall.
Bob Wischusen will also reportedly call games for ESPN. The network hasn't decided who its top play-by-play commentator will be, but internal candidates Steve Levy and Sean McDonough are both reportedly in the running.
Meanwhile, Turner Sports, who bought the other half of the U.S. TV rights package, is bringing in former NHL winger and current NBC/Sportsnet analyst Anson Carter as an analyst.
Carter joins a TNT team that includes Wayne Gretzky and Eddie Olczyk as analysts and Kenny Albert as a play-by-play broadcaster.
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