George Stroumboulopoulos "won’t return" as host of "HNIC" next season, as Ron MacLean is "expected to return to the show’s No. 1 seat" just two seasons after being replaced, according to sources cited in a front-page piece by Dave Feschuk of the TORONTO STAR. MacLean hosted "HNIC" from '86-'14, but since Rogers acquired Canada's NHL rights deal, he has "hosted Sunday night Hometown Hockey broadcasts and worked Saturdays alongside Don Cherry on Coach’s Corner." It is "expected he will continue those roles in addition to resuming the main HNIC hosting gig." This "marks a strategic about-face for Rogers," as execs in '14 "remade the iconic Saturday night show while speaking of the need to bring it to a younger demographic." Stroumboulopoulos' presence "didn’t do much for the show’s overall ratings, which have been lagging since he arrived." It also "hasn’t helped that the ratings-driving Maple Leafs have struggled through a couple of seasons" and that no Canadian teams made the playoffs this season. With ratings down, sources said that execs "suggested to Stroumboulopoulos that he tweak his appearance to be less jarring to some mainstream eyes." But sources said that he "didn’t appear to see the need for a makeover" (TORONTO STAR, 6/20).
FINALIZING DETAILS: The GLOBE & MAIL's David Shoalts cites sources as saying that many details "need to be worked out before the deal can be declared official." The "chief stumbling block to the move" is that MacLean "is adamant that he will not give up" his two current responsibilities. A source said that Rogers' plan "has the backing" of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, "despite his past fractious relationship" with MacLean (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/20). MacLean said "nothing's official" as of yet. He added there are a "few balls in the air and things like that" but until Rogers President of Sportsnet & NHL Properties Scott Moore or Sportsnet & NHL Production VP Rob Corte "says it's official, it's not official." MacLean: "We're all kind of just looking at next year and trying to figure out what's happening" (CP, 6/19).
