In Ft. Lauderdale, Christian Simmons reports the NHL Panthers have promoted Randy Moller to the team's TV analyst position. Longtime analyst Denis Potvin on Monday "announced his retirement after 21 seasons" with the team. Moller will work alongside play-by-play announcer Steve Goldstein during FS Florida telecasts. Moller joined the Panthers’ broadcast team back in '96-97, "starting off as a radio analyst before moving up to radio play-by-play" in '07-08. He has also been Panthers VP/Broadcasting & Alumni since '02 (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 7/31). Moller for the past four years has served as a "TV host and analyst between the benches" (MIAMI HERALD, 7/31).
BREAKING BARRIERS: AWFUL ANNOUNCING's Matt Yoder noted ESPN's Mina Kimes will be "serving as a preseason analyst" in the Rams broadcast booth this year. Kimes "could provide a lot of new insights in the broadcast booth." If her trial run "does work, it can open some new doors for new voices in covering the game" (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 7/30).
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: In Charlotte, Michael Gordon noted Panthers TE Greg Olsen "will use the team’s bye week to return to the TV booth" for Fox' broadcast of Cardinals-Giants on Oct. 20. The move "almost certainly will be a glimpse" into Olsen’s future after his playing career. Olsen in '17 called a Rams-Vikings game for Fox during the Panthers' bye week (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/30).
IT'S IN THE GAME: In Tennessee, Joseph Spears profiles Charles Davis and Brandon Gaudin, who "have yet to do a live game together" but have "teamed up over the past four years as the broadcast voices" for EA Sports' "Madden" franchise. Each week during the regular season, Davis and Gaudin "meet up at the Madden studio in Orlando" for a "two-day recording session." For Gaudin, "a lot of his work is scripted, and he can just work off that." The same "can't be said for Davis, who has to ad lib most of his commentary in different ways to keep the action interesting" (Murfreesboro DAILY NEWS JOURNAL, 7/31).
