THN.com Playoff Blog: Get Craig Simpson off the air!
Craig Simpson spend three seasons as an assistant with the Oilers. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/Getty Images)
Brian Costello
2008-05-18 12:48:06
Craig Simpson should find a new job.
Like back behind the bench as an assistant coach or head coach.
He just articulates the finer points of the game so well, it’s almost a shame he doesn’t have a more direct influence on what happens on the ice.
As the color commentator and analyst for Hockey Night In Canada, Simpson takes that job to a new level. In my opinion, there isn’t anyone better in the business. It’s always a treat staying up for the late game on CBC so I can hear him and Jim Hughson work a verbal exchange the way Gretzky and Kurri used to work the puck.
Simpson, who was an assistant with the Oilers from 2003-07, is intelligent, insightful, articulate and super smooth on the delivery. It’s an education in 21st century hockey listening to him… and I used to think I knew the game pretty well. It’s uncanny the amount of times I’ll be watching a game, wonder about a certain incident, then seconds later hear him deliver an explanation, almost as if prompted.
It’s also refreshing to hear Simpson doesn’t hesitate pointing out mistakes players and referees make and isn’t afraid to call them out. From time to time, I’ll PVR a late game, then watch it the next morning zipping through the commercials and some of the intermission fluff. But I like to listen to Simpson provide his insight during stoppages in play.
That’s why I implore an NHL GM to hire Simpson as a coach. I don’t know if being a good TV analyst will always translate into being a good head coach, but I can’t imagine players not being able to learn from him.
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He was the second overall pick in 1985 and played more than 600 games, winning two Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, before injuries forced him to retire at just 28.
Now 41, there’s still lots of time for him to make a stronger imprint on the game. Sources tell The Hockey News Simpson will give up the color commentary gig and return to the Oilers in some capacity next season. That’d be HNIC’s great loss, but the game’s gain.
Go for it Craig.
THN.com's Playoff Blogs, featuring analysis and opinion on the action from the night before, with insight on what happened and what it all means going forward, will appear daily throughout the NHL playoffs. Read more entries HERE.
Brian Costello is The Hockey News’s senior special editions editor and a regular contributor to THN.com. You can read his Top 10 list on Wednesdays and his blog each weekend.
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Sean (Posted 2008-07-20 17:03:15)
I was pretty happy to see Drew Remenda return to San Jose. Nothing cures insomnia better than a Sharks game on the dish - their TV coverage sucks. Their radio team is pretty good though.
Kevin Smith (Posted 2008-05-21 01:15:30)
I think you are all missing out on the greatest hockey broadcast team for a simple reason. You're not watching RDS. Play-by-play is Pierre Houde, and the best colour commentator around is Yvon Pedneault. Throw in Benoit Brunet, Jacques Demers, with Alain Crete as host. Unfortunately, many of you won't know French, and thus miss out. My family never watches the english broadcasts of Montreal games, because it's so much better en Français. We are all anglophones, but we'd rather miss a word here and there than listen to CBC's crap.
Icethepuck77 (Posted 2008-05-21 00:20:17)
Mike Emrick is nicknamed "Doc" from his days working as the stats guy next to Gene Hart doing Flyers broadcasts. Emrick is so absolutely stunning with his hockey recall of players, tendencies, stats, inside knowledge, anything to do with hockey that they used to joke that he had a "Ph.D. in Hockey". Having listened to him for over 20 years, I think he is the best in the business. He does have a higher pitched voice and I think he does a great job in keeping within comfort range as much as possible.......
tampa bay fan (Posted 2008-05-20 20:12:50)
rick pekham is by far the best play by play and with phil esposito doing colour it is the best duo ever!!! go tampa bay
Jimbo (Posted 2008-05-20 13:43:55)
I agree with G, Emerick is THE ABSOLUTE WORST announcer in both the history of Hockey, and the history of television. Plug doesn't know anything about the game, and it sounds as though someone has a darn firm grip on his satchel. If I hear him call the net a cage....just one more time, I could very well end up killing myself.
G code (Posted 2008-05-20 12:32:57)
Mike Emerick? He has got to be the worst, I can't stand him and his hockey terms like, "drive", "score" and "ricochet"..... Just say "he scores" what is this Score B.S. .... He also has the most annoying voice
Saibs (Posted 2008-05-20 12:30:53)
i realize we are supposed to be talking about colour commentators, but it still seems fitting to mention the best play by play man in the business, Rick Jenearette who does Buffalo games. Hughson is pretty good too, but Ricky J is awesome to listen to, even if he is a huge homer
A. Carpenter (Posted 2008-05-20 00:06:40)
I am lucky enough to get hockey on CBC (HNIC), NBC, VS, and local FoxDetroit coverage of reg season Wings games (Mickey Redmond rocks). CBC color guys are by far the best. Hands down. But for play by play.... Mike Emerick is tops right now. I would love to have Cup finals done by Emerick and Simpson.
Stephen Harpe (Posted 2008-05-19 21:46:39)
Hey S.R., are you insane? drew remenda is lousy, no wonder he found a gig in the states, cuz he cant cut the mustard here in Canada. Seriously !!
stephen robinson (Posted 2008-05-19 16:43:14)
only one better - Drew Remenda. and i'm glad we got him back covering sharks games this past season after he spent 06/07 with hockey night in CA. but too bad for everyone else, 'cause Drew's the best.
Ian B (Posted 2008-05-19 15:01:35)
I am all for this, as long as HNIC doesn't replace him with McQuire or Milbury :P
Eric K (Posted 2008-05-19 12:27:46)
I agree with Chris Velie... Daryl Reaugh is my guy too. He has some of the best timing and the best thesarus moments in colour commentating. Top notch and nobody better in my opinion. The best thing about him and Ralph is that they both do their homework on players and the game. They never have a bias that is obvious and are very fair minded to other teams.
dave (Posted 2008-05-19 12:13:47)
I guess I'm weird, but I've got this crazy idea that the play by play man should call the game and the colour man should provide, well, colour. What I don't want is a couple of guys talking about the game last week, the length of somebody's hair, or what a great/terrible (pick one) coach/player/human being somebody is, or showing 14 replays after every goal, or using the broadcast as a PVR to check on a referee's call. The game on the ice is great, but the CBC broadcast crew seems to think it needs a little shot of something extra. While Simpson is no worse that Millen, they both seem to be under the impression that their ideas and thoughts are more important than anything that's happening on the ice. Replays over a power play in overtime? How big an ego do you need to work on that broadcast? These guys could suck the excitement out of the crash of the Hindenberg. Just my opinion, of course.
C. Mike (Posted 2008-05-19 11:40:03)
If the CBC is supposed to be easing Cole off to a retirement home, please have Hughson-Simpson call the Stanley Cup Final. Also, I didn't think it was possible that there was a more useless tool on the planet than Harry Neale...until Greg MIllen moved in.
jeff (Posted 2008-05-19 10:26:48)
All that needs to be said is Bob Cole-Harry Neale...
j kasel (Posted 2008-05-19 02:50:12)
You gotta be kidding!?!? He is as terrible a colour guy as he was a coach. He coached the oilers powerplay right to the bottom of the league and it is considerably better without him. As for his TV stuff, he uses an annoying tone that seems to say, "you should know this." Can't stand him. Ray Ferraro is the best there is. I will agree on one point; Get him off the air.
Carey Miller (Posted 2008-05-19 01:09:25)
Hughson-Simpson and Miller-McGuire are by far the two best tandems in the booth (or booth/bench). Greg Millen is pretty bad as has been for a long time. In the SCF it would be great if it was Hughson and Simpson although I would settle for Cole/Simpson if they don't have the nerve to show Cole the door.
Ron B (Posted 2008-05-18 21:43:57)
Yeah he can come back and coach us to the leagues worst powerplay again like before...stick to TV Craig or go coach the flames.
Mike Sanderson (Posted 2008-05-18 20:12:48)
Agreed totally, Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson are the best in the biz right now. Hughson will take over for Cole either next year or the year after, from what I've heard, and they are easing Bob out of it, much in the same way they did with Harry Neale this year, who was given a few games to fulfill his contract and still allow him to honor his Buffalo Sabres MSG contract. Simpson is better then Millen, much better then McGuire (who should have stuck to coaching and out of the broadcast booth), and much much much better then John Garrett. Kudos.
Joe Blake (Posted 2008-05-18 16:46:08)
Just glad to see a color man who is not an ex goalie. . .
Chris Velie (Posted 2008-05-18 14:32:41)
I agree, Craig Simpson is great but I think Daryl Reaugh of the Dallas Stars broadcast team is tops. Like Simpson he understands the game and all it's nuances and then adds great humor. He calls the Stars but is not a giant homer like so many of these guys. It always amazes me he does not get more national exposure. But then again, I want him just for the Stars!
Josh Dunville (Posted 2008-05-18 13:12:04)
It's a shame that Hughson and Simpson are relegated to a secondary role behind Cole and Millen. I'm extremely confident that the majority of CBC viewers would prefer listening to Hughson and Simpson. I will be watching this afternoons game on NBC because Emrick and McGuire are much better (I'm not sure about Olczyk though).
There is no need to ease Cole out the door. Before this series started he should have been picked up, like the person who prides himself on being the most annoying after a few drinks, had his head used as a battering ram to open the door, and thrown out.
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