On Friday, it was announced that the Minnesota Wild’s television play-by-play analyst, Dan Terhaar will not have his contract renewed. For seven years, Terhaar has been the Wild’s PBP guy, and his last contract was renewed in 2010. The Wild did decide to renew the contracts of Mike Greenlay (television color analyst), Bob Kurtz (radio play-by-play), and Tom Reid (radio color analyst). According to the statement made by the Wild, they will make further determinations about broadcast teams later this spring, including working on finding a new television PBP person. However, with the way the Wild stated things, one could almost wonder if they will somehow go with a television-radio simulcast using Kurtz and Reid and put Greenlay down between the benches, kind of like Pierre McGuire does during nationally broadcast games. Personally, I would kind of like that, however, there are people out there that hated when Reid was on television with Mike Goldberg.
Most likely though, the Wild will not go with the simulcast idea. Expect to see a new television guy brought in. It will be interesting to see who they bring in. The fans however, will be tough on whoever comes in. We have had a string of less than impressive play by play guys since year one. After Mike “Big Drive” Goldberg, we had to suffer through Matt “Lost the Handle” McConnell. Fans vented quite vocally about McConnell, so much so that someone who claimed to be his wife joined the message boards to tell the fans they were mean and wrong. Thankfully, the McConnell years were short. However, with McConnell came Mike Greenlay, who we still will have in the immediate future. Terhaar has been painful for fans to watch/listen to. There are drinking games tied to him for things like when his voice cracks or he mentions when a certain player if from Minnesota (and that is more than once during a game). Now, while fans wait for the entry draft and free agency, we get to play the “who will be the new television guy” game.
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Are Wild fans angry that Dan Terhaar’s contract was not re-newed?
If you frequent the message boards like I do, the answer is no. In fact, most fans are celebrating this move. To quote a few posters over at wild.com, “Great News!” from 8pmb96, “Thank you sweet baby Jesus of 4/20!!!” from Soulfly and a “Woo Hoo” from PtoJoneser. Can you tell there were a few fans that just couldn’t stand the endless voice cracks, mis-named players and overly repeated phrases from game to game? I would say I took a little joy in creating a drinking game for Mr. Terhaar, one that would’ve left most hockey fans completely trashed before the end of the 1st period. So with Mr. Terhaar gone, who do Wild fans drink to? Until they name Terhaar’s replacement all we can do is focus on the remaining member of the broadcast team Mike Greenlay. It is arguable that there is just as much Wild fan vitriol for the analyst as there was for Terhaar. Wild.com regular KISSArmyMan was quick to remind the celebrating Wild fans that, “You still get Greenlay telling you every chance he gets that he was a back-up goaltender or putting the Minnesota city in front of every Minnesota-born players name or questioning every officiating call that doesn’t go the Wild’s way” and poster DaveyJ who said, “I think Terhaar is horrible, but I think Greenlay is twice as bad!”
Should the Wild have given Mike Greenlay the axe too?
So as our gift to you, the State of Hockey News would like to fill that Wild drinking game void by offering up one for Mike Greenlay.
One Shot of 50-proof (or better) alcohol of your choice if Mike Greenlay says any of the following:
~ Mentions a player is either an Edmonton or Calgary-native
~ If he is winning the 1st intermission “Faceoff” segment at any point
~ If he laughs at his own joke
Two Shots of 50-proof (or better) alcohol of your choice if Mike Greenlay says any of the following:
~ Mentions a player is from (insert Minnesota town / city here).
~ Mentions what Ameican college a player once attended.
~ Says the word ‘wicked’
~ If he is losing the 1st intermission “Faceoff” segment at any point
Three Shots of 50-proof or better alcohol and a beer chaser if Mike Greenlay says any of the following:
~ Complains about the officiating, non-calls, calls or otherwise.
~ Mentions a Canadian team during the 1st intermission “Faceoff” segment
~ Gushes about Mikko Koivu for no good reason
So who should be Terhaar’s replacement? I would toss out a few suggestions.
From left to right Doug McLeod, Randy Moller, and Randy Hahn
Maybe its just me but I would love to see Doug McLeod back and broadcasting Minnesota hockey. He has a fantastic voice and while he has been out of the broadcast loop for a few years after failing to stick with the Colorado Avalanche’s Altitude Network, I would be willing to give him a shot. McLeod was terrific for the Minnesota North Stars and he certainly could recall some of those days if he had to and I think that would resonate with a lot of fans. I’ve heard some question whether McLeod still has the energy necessary to be a play-by-play man but I think being back in Minnesota could perhaps re-ignite that passion. Another option is former NHL defenseman and veteran of 815 games with the Quebec Nordiques, Buffalo Sabres, New York Rangers and current Florida Panthers radio voice Randy Moller. Moller not only brings an NHL pedigree to the play by play spot (as far as I know he’s the only play by play broadcaster in the league to have been a former NHL player) but he brings a ton of energy and some off the wall creativity in a cliche driven business. Check it out for yourself.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=C3b_7S-sGBo
Yes, I realize these are various lyrics and movie lines that were submitted to him by Miami’s Dan LeBatard Show, but you still have to have the ability to deliver these lines in a clever and humorous fashion and Moller certainly can do that. If the Wild have another miserable season, perhaps having a play by play guy with a little more off the wall humor may be just the trick to keep the games a little more entertaining. My last suggestion is for one of the most underrated and I believe best hockey broadcasters out there in San Jose Sharks TV play-by-play man Randy Hahn. Hahn has a terrific voice and deliver that is somewhat similar to Bob Kurtz, where he always has enthusiasm no matter if the home team is dominating or the road team. He is insightful and has that gift of being able to help personify what you just saw while not being over the top. This is just a short wish list, but you can bet if you polled Wild fans you’d get a huge list of names.
Now while we shouldn’t celebrate too much that a person has lost their job, for the vast majority of Wild fans, Terhaar’s departure is the best bit of news we’ve received early in our off-season. I know of many fans who would actually mute their televisions during games and listen to the radio broadcast. Now that doesn’t always work as there is a delay between the two, and the delay varies by one’s provider. For people like myself, that wasn’t possibly, because to listen to the radio broadcast we had to listen online. When listening online, there was an even greater delay. So unfortunately, we had to listen to Terhaar. Who knows, he just may land on both feet and find a new job. Both Goldberg (although by his own choice) and McConnell found jobs outside of Minnesota. All I know, is that the Wild better find a PBP guy with a good pedigree, or it just might send fans over the edge. Although at the same time, if the Wild have another season on the ice like we have for the past few seasons, an analyst drinking game just might be the only thing that keeps us sane.
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