In Toronto, Raju Mudhar notes a "technical glitch caused the CBC feed to cut out at the end of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final just as the players were in the handshake line." A "wonky split-screen of the NBC feed appeared a few seconds later, while CBC’s feed returned after 15 minutes, then disappeared again for a bit during the montage that officially ended the network’s creative control after more than 60 years of Hockey Night in Canada." It is "too bad the national broadcaster went out in such a clumsy fashion, but perhaps fitting in a season when it lost the rights to HNIC and came under much criticism and scrutiny as it moves to an uncertain future" (TORONTO STAR, 6/17).
RUMOR HAS IT: Capitals Owner Ted Leonsis on Sunday posted a blog entry that went after The Hockey News reporter Ken Campbell for his report last week that Bob Nicholson "was considering offers from three teams to become their CEO." The Capitals were one of the teams, and Campbell reported the team was "offering the most money." Leonsis wrote the "supporting information that suggested the writer was privy to financial terms." Leonsis: "All of this could not be further from the truth. I can only guess that it was either fabrication or the writer trusted someone who must be one of the worst 'sources' in the history of newsgathering" (TEDSTAKE.com, 6/15). Nicholson on Friday joined the Oilers.
CAT FANCY: In Charlotte, Joseph Person reports former Panthers OT Jordan Gross is returning to the team as the "sideline reporter for the team's radio network next season." Gross said that he also will be "part of a mid-week TV broadcast during the season, details of which have yet to be announced." Person notes the rest of the radio broadcast team "will remain the same, with Mick Mixon handling play-by-play and Jim Szoke and Eugene Robinson combining as analysts." Sharon Thorsland will "continue to do pregame reports for home games" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/17).
TALK TO ME: Astros Owner Jim Crane said that negotiations "continue with carriers and potential investors" in the Comcast SportsNet Houston bankruptcy case. Crane this weekend noted the net "is in negotiations with pretty much everybody and hopeful of getting something done." He added, "We've been in contact with everybody that's in the game, and there's some activity. There's been some interest from some private equity firms" (CHRON.com, 6/16).
