NBCSN Hockey Commentators include Mike Babcock, Colby Cohen, Scott Darling, Patrick Sharp and Troy Murray. Scott Darling joined the network in 2022.
As the NHL Second Round matchup of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs draws to a close, anticipation builds among hockey fans worldwide for the upcoming Conference Finals.
NBC Sports Network is poised to provide comprehensive coverage of the event, starting with the opening game on May 18, 2023, between the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers.
A well-known sports network, NBCSN broadcasts a diverse range of events, including the NHL playoffs. The network employs a team of seasoned sportscasters who offer expert analysis and play-by-play coverage during the games.
For the highly anticipated NHL conference finals, NBCSN is expected to feature its accomplished lineup of commentators and announcers, including play-by-play announcer Randy Hahn, Chris Vosters, Mike Babcock, and Colby Cohen.
These individuals bring extensive experience covering NHL games and are renowned for their insightful analysis, engaging play-by-play, and comprehensive understanding of the sport. They will be responsible for conveying the full picture of the on-ice action to viewers.
NBCSN Hockey Announcers List
NBCSN hockey announcers tonight are:
- Joe Beninati (1994-present)
- John Wiedeman (2006-present)
- Bret Hedican (2014- present)
- Drew Remenda (2021-present)
- Chris Vosters (2022-present)
- Randy Hahn
Randy Hahn has served as the play-by-play for the San Jose Sharks on NBC Sports California for over 30 seasons, amassing over 40 years of experience in broadcasting, primarily in hockey.
Hahn celebrated his 2,000th Sharks game on December 13th, 2022, during the team's game against the Arizona Coyotes in San Jose. He and his former partner Drew Remenda have won five Northern California Emmy Awards.
On the other hand, Chris Vosters is the TV play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Blackhawks on NBC Sports Chicago and has also screened the last three Olympic Games for the NBC Sports network.
After developing sports and public speaking interests, Chris pursued a career in broadcast journalism, graduating with Journalism and Mass Communication degree at the University of Wisconsin.
Since 2017, Chris has called games for the Big Ten Network, FOX Sports, Bally Sports, the ESPN family of networks, NBC Sports, and Stadium, with his Olympic coverage standing out as a particular highlight and honor.
Likewise, Drew Remenda is a radio and television broadcaster for the San Jose Sharks, serving as a color commentator for TV broadcasts of Sharks games on CSN California. He also co-hosts Sports Night with Jamie Nye and Drew Remenda for CKOM in Saskatoon.
In February 2021, Drew returned to San Jose Sharks broadcasts as a pre and post-game analyst, and his role expanded to a color analyst for radio and television broadcasts in October.
Joe Beninati is the television play-by-play announcer for Washington Capitals and provides game coverage for NBC Sports Washington, alongside Capitals television color analyst Craig Laughlin and "Inside the Glass" reporter Alan May.
Besides, Joe has been with the Washington Capitals since 1994 and is often heard as the play-by-play voice of Men and Women's Lacrosse on ESPNU and The Big Ten Network (BTN) when he's not behind the microphone for the Capitals.
NBCSN Hockey Studio Hosts
Hockey studio hosts for the NBCSN network are:
- Alexa Shaw
- Nick Ashooh
- Al Koken
- Wes Hall
- Pat Boyle
In 2019, Alexa Shaw joined NBC Sports Washington, where she co-hosted the Weeknight talk and entertainment program D.C. Sports Live with Wes Hall and Nick Ashooh.
Before the 2020-21 NHL season, she became the host of Capitals Pregame Live and Capitals Postgame Live after working as a sideline reporter for the WNBA's Dallas Wings and high school football, among other content, at FOX Sports Southwest.
Shaw's experience also includes contributions to FOX Sports Southwest's weekly high school sports show, High School Scoreboard Live, and covering the Horned Frogs football team and NCAA bowl games as a reporter and host during her time at Texas Christian University.
Nick Ashooh, another NBCSN host, joined the network as a television and radio host in 2018. During the 2018-19 season, he co-hosted Wizards Outsiders before being named co-host of D.C. Sports Live in 2019, alongside Wes Hall and Alexa Shaw.
In the 2020-21 NHL season, Ashooh contributed to Capitals Pregame Live and Capitals Postgame Live after working as a host and anchor for 106.7 the Fan and eight years with Team 980 as a host and production director.
Ashooh's previous work also includes hosting a nationally syndicated program on Fox Sports Radio and serving as a sports anchor for SiriusXM.
Meanwhile, Al Koken, the longest-tenured member of NBC Sports Washington, joined the network in 1984 and has held every on-air role from play-by-play announcer to analyst, reporter, and host, covering nearly every team in the Washington D.C. region.
Koken was the longtime reporter for live-game coverage and contributed to Capitals Pregame Live and Capitals Postgame Live. He has been covering the Capitals since their inception as a former print reporter and veteran radio host.
In addition to his career with NBC Sports Washington, Koken spent over a decade as co-host of the John Thompson Show on ESPN 980 and assisted as a sports anchor and reporter for Washington's WTTG-Tv and WUSA-TV.
Since 2004, Pat Boyle has held the position of Blackhawks host for NBC Sports Chicago, where he has been a part of the broadcasting team. Before his role at NBC Sports Chicago, he spent nearly 18 years as an anchor at CSN Chicago and NBC 5 Chicago.
Additionally, his professional background includes serving as an anchor for ESPN for four years, as stated on his LinkedIn page. Notably, Boyle is a graduate of Michigan State University, further highlighting his academic achievements.
NBCSN Hockey Studio Analysts
The list of studio analysts working for NBCSN are:
- Mike Babcock
- Colby Cohen
- Scott Darling
- Patrick Sharp
- Troy Murray
- Craig Laughlin
- Brent Johnson
- Alan May
- Jennifer Botterill
Craig Laughlin has been an analyst for NBC Sports' live-game coverage of the Washington Capitals since 1990. Laughlin played for the Capitals as a forward for six seasons from 1982-83 to 1987-88, tallying 110 goals and 173 assists in 428 regular-season games.
He also participated in 27 playoff games for the team. He was originally drafted by Montreal, where he played his rookie NHL season before joining the Capitals as part of a trade with the Canadiens, including Rod Langway, in September 1982.
Another NBCSN hockey studio analyst Mike Babcock became to cover NHL games on NBC Sports in the 2021 season, according to NHL.
Babcock boasts an impressive record as an NHL coach, with a 700-418-164 win-loss record with 19 ties in 17 seasons coaching the Detroit Red Wings, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
In addition, he has led his teams to 164 Stanley Cup Playoff games and conquered the Stanley Cup in 2008 with the Detroit Red Wings. He also guided the 2003 Mighty Ducks and 2009 Red Wings to the Stanley Cup Final.
Colby Cohen, a game and studio analyst for Chicago Blackhawks games on NBC Sports Chicago, has been a television hockey analyst for ESPN since 2016.
Additionally, he worked as a color commentator for the NCAA men's Frozen Four/National Championship game this year and as a studio analyst for the men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament on ESPN.
Moreover, Scott Darling became a studio analyst for Blackhawks coverage on NBC Sports Chicago in October 2022. Previously, he played in the NHL for the Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes.
Darling was selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the sixth round, 153rd overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2015, making him the first Chicago-area native player to win a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks.
After retiring from playing, Patrick Sharp joined NBC Sports as a studio analyst, and he now provides color commentary for Blackhawks broadcasts with NBC Sports Chicago. In 2021, he also worked as a member of the University of Vermont coaching staff.
Former NBCSN female hockey commentator A. J. Mleczko departed from the network and embarked on a new venture as a hockey commentator for ESPN/ABC and MSG Networks NHL broadcasts.
