Sportsnet, TSN Ramp Up Coverage Around NHL Trade Deadline

The NHL Trade Deadline is at 3:00pm ET today, and in Canada, both Sportsnet and TSN "have blocked off 10 straight hours of live coverage." The nets are "throwing as much firepower as ever at the day, firm in the belief that it is circled in hard-core fans’ calendars." They "both hit the air" at 8:00am, "with radio shows setting the stage hours earlier" (GLOBE & MAIL, 3/2). So far in NHL trading, "draft picks have been moving at a fast and furious pace." It is a "seller's market and much more selling could be coming before the clock runs out" (CP, 3/1).

TSN confirmed that Dustin Penner "has been pulled" from today's coverage after the free agent LW on Saturday "made a joke about rape on Twitter." Penner was slated to be on the air with Cabral ‘Cabbie’ Richards to "give a different-type of take on the deadline" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/1). When pressed for an apology, Penner was "less than sincere." He appeared to show "brief remorse" but "elected not to delete the tweets" (QMI AGENCY, 3/1).