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THN.com Blog: Who do you want to read in THN?

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I got a call last Thursday morning from senior writer Mike Brophy, asking if I wanted to go for lunch.

Red flags, air-raid sirens and “last minute of play in this tenure” alerts should have gone off immediately because “Broph” – as he insisted I refer to him on his first day on the job 16 years ago – was on vacation. Heck, it’s tough enough to get him to come into the office when he’s on the clock, never mind when he’s enjoying his five-week summer healing retreat.

Somehow, mired in my own world, I was oblivious to what was imminent…until he arrived at the office about an hour later, shut my door and sat down. That’s when I knew Broph’s days as one of the leading voices and faces of The Hockey News were drawing to an end.

If you haven’t heard, Broph is leaving us at the end of next week to join Rogers full-time. He’ll be doing more TV work for Sportsnet, hosting a radio program two days a week and, ahem, writing for a competitor’s website.

Naturally, we were saddened by the news. Broph has broad-based appeal with our audience and his contributions will be dearly missed. His departure creates a void on our team in terms of leadership, camaraderie and humor, too. The man knows how to tell stories and make others laugh (but that’s a blog/column for another time).

On a personal level, it stings because Broph is a very close friend, a sage advisor and a sounding board.

Life, however, goes on. And while we may not unearth another Broph immediately, the challenge of replacing him also presents us with an opportunity.

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For starters, like an NHL team that ranks high in Future Watch, we have an abundance of young talent at THN and we’re excited as they continue to grow into stars.

At the same time, our brand name gives us the ability, and credibility, to attract established writers and hockey personalities to lend their voices to our mix.

And that’s where you come in. We’d like to know whose work you’d like to read in the pages of The Hockey News and web pages of thn.com.

We’re viewing this as a clean sheet of ice; we’ll consider every name, from veteran hockey writers and columnists, to broadcasters, to former players and executives. If there’s someone out there you feel would enhance our product, let us know.

Add a comment below and debate the merits of potential contributors; or email us at letters@thehockeynews.com.

Thanks in advance.

Jason Kay is the editor in chief of The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears every weekend.

For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.

COMMENTS (169)

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Frank Foley Posted
(2009-04-30 07:26:54)



Bill Meltzer is the only person I turn to for hockey insight these days. Having been burned by false rumors and faked injury reports from guys who have absolutely no base for their claims, I now only read Meltzer for the final word on the Philadelphia Flyers and other international goings-on in the world of hockey. The man spends his vacations in places like Finland digging up hockey info. He has a problem. The other thing he has is historic perspective and he almost never follows the herd by simply railing against the goalie who's on a cold streak. He takes events in the context of a whole season.
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Andrea W. Posted
(2009-04-30 07:20:30)



Bill Metzler, no doubt. Theres no sports writer that even comes close to having his dedication, understanding, and passion for the sport of hockey. Not only that, but he is a very talented writer with the ability to lay it all down so that even the most basic of hockey fans understands what he is saying. Please make this guy your next columnist.
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tockeyhockey Posted
(2009-04-30 07:11:01)



Take a long hard look at the consistent work of Bill Meltzer. His dedication to the game and knowledge is astounding to me. He follows the Russian leagues in the offseason, if you can believe that. The guy is an absolute gem. THN would be a better publication if they had him.
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tockeyhockey Posted
(2009-04-30 07:11:01)



wow! i had already posted before i went down and read all the other comments. i know it looks like someone's been stuffing the ballot box, but it's not the case. meltzer really is the best hockey writer i've ever read, and he's only doing it part time. it's an inside joke in philadelphia that the guys at the inquirer and daily news get paid to do what meltzer does as a hobby. he really is excellent and while we would miss his coverage of the flyers, he would do excellent things for the entire sport if he were to get a national gig. and that's more important.
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Chad Mills Posted
(2009-04-30 07:10:18)



Bill Meltzer is the best candidate. Nobody else is even in the same league.
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Rajiv Sinha Posted
(2009-04-30 07:01:24)



Bill Meltzer is the best hockey writer I have read and for a Philly Flyers fan it will be the biggest loss if he does move on to Hockey News and stops writing his blog on Flyers. But it will be a gain to the hockey community to have one of the hidden gem finally in the limelight he deserves. His opinion is unbiased and reflects his hockey knowledge, detailed insight, professional approach, fan appeal and pulse, etc.
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Matt Posted
(2009-04-30 07:01:10)



Bill Meltzer. its not even close. one of the best writers in hockey right now
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Lisa Posted
(2009-04-30 07:00:01)



Without a doubt, Bill Meltzer from Hockeybuzz.
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Tom M Posted
(2009-04-30 06:59:53)



Bill Meltzer is an excellent writer and the best choice by far! This man lives hockey and he is the ONLY reason I frequent hockeybuzz online. I would gladly rather come here to read his articles! :)
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Rob Levin Posted
(2009-04-30 06:59:47)



Bill Meltzer is the best hockey writer I've ever read (and I've read a few). He consistently destroys any of the local philly newspaper writers in both his in depth analysis and also his questioning of the team coaching and management (which the others writers won't go near for fear of being left out of the club). He understands the game on a very detailed level and also has expert knowledge of the game throughout the world (which he reports on regularly). His talents are wasted on Hockeybuzz IMO as that blog pretty much sucks (ie - Eklund and his stupid dog) except for him. The hockey news would be lucky as hell to have a writer of his caliber. All they and his detractors in these comments need to do is read samples of his work on Hockeybuzz to know it.
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