NBC Sports’ Commentary Team Features Over 20 Game and Studio Commentators
Kenny Albert, Brendan Burke and John Forslund Headline Play-By-Play Commentators
Liam McHugh, Kathryn Tappen, Anson Carter, Keith Jones and Patrick Sharp Anchor Studio Coverage
Stanley Cup Champion Head Coach Mike Babcock and 13-Year NHL Veterans Ryan Callahan and Dominic Moore to Contribute to Studio Coverage
2020-21 Season Preview Conference Call Today at 1 p.m. ET
STAMFORD, Conn. – Jan. 11, 2021 – NBC Sports has announced its team of more than 20 game and studio commentators for its coverage of the 2020-21 NHL regular season, which begins Wednesday on NBCSN with a tripleheader headlined by the defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning against the Chicago Blackhawks. As a result of approximately 100 regular-season games in four months combined with COVID protocols, NBC Sports will use a deep roster of game and studio commentators in a variety of different combinations, with some occasionally calling games from remote locations.
GAME COMMENTATORS
NBC Sports will utilize nearly 15 play-by-play commentators and analysts throughout the 2020-21 season. Kenny Albert, Brendan Burke and John Forslund will headline the group of play-by-play commentators. Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Pierre McGuire and AJ Mleczko will lead NBC Sports’ game analyst team, all appearing on the season’s opening night Wednesday Night Hockey tripleheader. U.S. Olympic gold medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield, who has appeared numerous times on NBC Sports’ NHL coverage, will take on a recurring role as a game analyst this season.
In addition, many analysts, such as Olczyk, Anson Carter and Keith Jones, will contribute to both game and studio coverage during the year. In some instances, game commentary will originate from remote locations, including NBC Sports’ International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn.
| NBC SPORTS’ 2020-21 NHL GAME COMMENTATORS | |
| Play-by-Play* | Analysts* |
| Kenny Albert | Eddie Olczyk |
| John Forslund | Brian Boucher |
| Brendan Burke | Pierre McGuire |
| Mike Tirico | AJ Mleczko |
| Gord Miller | Kendall Coyne Schofield |
| John Walton | Keith Jones |
| Randy Hahn | Anson Carter |
| Joe Micheletti |
*These are not paired commentary teams.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT HOCKEY TRIPLEHEADER SEASON OPENING NIGHT DETAILS
The 2020-21 NHL season begins on NBC Sports’ Wednesday Night Hockey tripleheader on Jan. 13 on NBCSN. Broadcast information is below:
| Date | Coverage | Commentators | Time (ET) |
| Wed., January 13 | NHL Live | Kathryn Tappen, Keith Jones, Patrick Sharp, Bob McKenzie | 5:15 p.m. |
| Pittsburgh at Philadelphia | Kenny Albert, Pierre McGuire | 5:30 p.m. | |
| Chicago at Tampa Bay | John Forslund, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher | 8 p.m. | |
| St. Louis at Colorado | Brendan Burke, AJ Mleczko | 10:30 p.m. | |
| NHL Overtime | Kathryn Tappen, Keith Jones, Patrick Sharp | 1 a.m.* |
*Immediately following game coverage
STUDIO COMMENTATORS
Kathryn Tappen and Liam McHugh return as the hosts for NBC Sports’ NHL studio coverage alongside analysts Jones, Carter and three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Sharp. In addition, Stanley Cup-winning head coach Mike Babcock and 13-year NHL veterans Ryan Callahan and Dominic Moore will contribute to studio coverage during the season.
NHL insiders Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger also reprise their roles for the 2020-21 season, appearing during studio coverage on Wednesday Night Hockey.
| NBC SPORTS’ 2020-21 NHL STUDIO COMMENTATORS | ||
| Hosts | Analysts | Insiders |
| Kathryn Tappen | Keith Jones | Bob McKenzie |
| Liam McHugh | Anson Carter | Darren Dreger |
| Patrick Sharp | ||
| Mike Babcock | ||
| Ryan Callahan | ||
| Dominic Moore | ||
2020-21 SEASON PREVIEW CONFERENCE CALL TODAY AT 1 P.M. ET
NBC Sports’ NHL game analysts Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Pierre McGuire and AJ Mleczko as well as NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood will preview the 2020-21 season on a media conference call today, Jan. 11, at 1 p.m. ET.
Media interested in participating should call 800-437-2398; Passcode: 3007916.
2020-21 REGULAR SEASON COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS
NBC Sports is scheduled to present roughly 100 games featuring all 31 teams on NBC and NBCSN during the 2020-21 NHL regular-season with coverage beginning January 13 with a Wednesday Night Hockey tripleheader on NBCSN, headlined by the defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning against the Chicago Blackhawks. Click here for more info.
--NBC SPORTS--