New doubt casted on Ron MacLean and Kevin Bieksa’s return to HNIC!

Last week, multiple online reports emerged that there would be “sweeping changes” to Sportsnet’s Hockey Night in Canada broadcast panel next season concerning with the futures of Ron MacLean, Kelly Hrudey, Kevin Bieksa and Jennifer Botterill. Former longtime Rogers/Sportsnet employee Howard Berger claimed that “only Elliotte Friedman was safe from the changes and cost–cutting measures on the horizon.”

However, on Tuesday, MacLean confirmed that he will in fact be back for another season of Hockey Night in Canada. Bieksa also stated that he would return next season on the panel.

Some fans got upset, others celebrated the news that those “sweeping changes” were coming, however on Wednesday evening, Berger casted doubt once again when sharing his latest update on MacLean.

“MacLean, on Tuesday, made it known through a Tweet by John Shannon that he’ll be returning as host of Hockey Night this October… in discordance of a blog I wrote last week that suggested otherwise. The news actually warmed my heart; as I expressed in the blog, I’m hoping for Ron to go out on his terms, not anyone else’s. But, ask me if I trust the unconscionable boobs that sit atop the ivory tower at Rogers’ headquarters (or Bell Media, for that matter) and you’ll get a different answer. These money first moguls aren’t in the habit of warning employees about the bloodlettings that occur two or three times per year. You merely come to work, unsuspectingly, and are told to go home; occasionally, also, that your media outlet no longer exists. So, I’m hoping Ron was accurate. Kevin Bieksa, too. The person that told me of potential changes at Hockey Night has a long and distinguished tenure in Canadian media; a well–connected individual that every sports viewer in the land would instantly recognize.”

And so, who is telling the truth? Will MacLean, and even Bieksa and company, be back for the 2023-24 season or are we in for a stunning announcement right before puck drop?

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