Wayne Gretzky is entering the hockey broadcasting world.
The NHL’s all-time leading scorer signed a multi-year deal to become a studio analyst with American-based Turner Sports on Wednesday. He will appear during key moments in the regular season — including opening week and the Winter Classic — and then throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The NHL reached multi-year deals with Turner Sports and ESPN for their American television coverage earlier this year, which will end the league’s association with NBC starting next season.
Gretzky resigned as vice-chairman of the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, saying he could not devote the time needed to the franchise given the pandemic and life changes.
Gretzky said during a telephone interview with The Associated Press that the opportunity to join Atlanta-based Turner, as well as some other changes, led to this being the perfect time to move into an analyst role. Gretzky and his wife, Janet, moved to Missouri earlier this year to be closer to his mother-in-law, who turns 100 in August.
The move from California also allows them to be closer to their two grandchildren, who are in South Florida.
"We just felt like, after the passing of my dad and my youngest going to college this year, maybe this is a good time to move. We’ve kind of become empty nesters," he said. "Atlanta is an hour from Florida and an hour from St. Louis. So I guess the stars were aligned. We get to spend a lot of time with our family, and I get to do what I love to do, which is talk about hockey."
Turner Sports has earned critical acclaim for its use of former basketball players Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal on its NBA coverage.
Gretzky said Turner reached out to him a couple months ago about a potential role. He also received a recruiting pitch from Barkley.
Even though they are good friends, Gretzky said no one should expect him to have the same style or delivery as Barkley, who is a big hockey fan.
"I’ll be honest and forthright, but I’m not, by any means, controversial," Gretzky said. "And just so we’re very clear, I’m going to be way more positive than I am negative. That’s just my nature. You can still be critical without going over the edge."
John Shannon, a longtime sports broadcaster and the former executive producer of "Hockey Night in Canada", said Gretzky is an ideal fit for the position.
"I truly believe Wayne Gretzky could have as big an impact in this part of his life that he did in his playing career," Shannon said. "When you look at Charles Barkley and what he did to basketball and to TNT, to create a following, I believe it’s within Wayne’s grasp to do the same thing."
Shannon added he believes Gretzky will not just be there for the hardcore hockey fan, but to grow the game as well.
"He’s there to lure in the person who may know his name, but is not quite sure about hockey," he said. "If he’s able to distil a story, they may want to watch. And if they watch and enjoy themselves, they may want to watch again tomorrow.
"That’s the magic that Wayne Gretzky has, the opportunity to use to help the game in 2021."
Much like he did in bringing the game to new fans when he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988, Gretzky is hoping to continue to expand the game’s reach.
"I think the game is in a better position than it’s ever been before. The young players who are in the game today are outstanding athletes and they represent the game the way it should be," he said. "And I’m 60 years old. I don’t need the stress of running a hockey team day to day. But this gives me an opportunity to talk about the game and try to take it to another level.
"I think everyone has a responsibility who was a player in the National Hockey League to try to grow the game, and if I can be part of making Turner a positive venue for people to watch, I’m all for it. In all seriousness, I wish I could still play but unfortunately, that’s not going to happen."
The 60-year-old Gretzky, a native of Brantford, Ont., has worked throughout the hockey industry since retiring as a player in 1999.
Gretzky was coach of the Phoenix Coyotes for four seasons and also was executive director of Canada’s men’s Olympic hockey team in 2002 and 2006. The ’02 team won gold in Salt Lake City.
A four-time Stanley Cup winner as a player with Edmonton, Gretzky returned to a front-office role with the Oilers in 2016.
In his bio on the Oilers’ website, the team says Gretzky’s duties included working with the Oilers Entertainment Group team on the commercial side of the business, as well as supporting development initiatives in the district where the Rogers Place arena is located.
The team said Gretzky worked closely with owner Daryl Katz and Oilers chairman Bob Nicholson in all aspects of the organization.
Gretzky was not involved in day-to-day dealings with the media during his time in the Oilers front office.
Gretzky returned to Brantford after his dad, Walter, died in March and delivered an emotional eulogy in a nationally-televised ceremony.
Turner Sports also announced veteran play-by-play commentator Kenny Albert and former NHL player Eddie Olczyk will call games on TNT and TBS.
Turner’s seven-year agreement begins next season. Besides regular-season and playoff games, it also includes the 2023, ’25 and ’27 Stanley Cup finals on the TNT cable network.
FAQs
In May Gretzky announced that he was stepping down as vice chairman of the Edmonton Oilers to become lead analyst on Turner's studio show after agreeing to a contract that will pay him in the neighborhood of $3 million per season, according to sources.
Is Gretzky working for TNT? ›
Wayne Gretzky loves his day job -- as an analyst on the "NHL On TNT" studio show alongside Rick Tocchet, Anson Carter, Paul Bissonnette and host Liam McHugh -- that much.
Is Wayne Gretzky an analyst? ›
The leading scorer in NHL history joined Turner Sports as a studio analyst May 26 after stepping down from his role as partner and vice chairman with the Edmonton Oilers. Gretzky holds or shares 61 NHL records, including goals (894), assists (1,963) and points (2,857), and was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Nov.
Why is Wayne Gretzky on TNT? ›
The next chapter of Wayne Gretzky's life will see the hockey legend join the TNT broadcast team as an analyst for the 2021-22 NHL season – an opportunity that may not have come together without some encouragement from an NBA legend, popular TNT commentator and longtime friend of The Great One.
What is Charles Barkley's salary at TNT? ›
Barkley currently has three years left on a contract that pays him $10 million per season. His current contract coincides with TNT's agreement with the NBA deal expiring after the 2024-25 season.
What is Aaron Murray salary? ›
How much does TNT pay the NHL? ›
Turner Sports has reached a seven-year deal with the NHL for the package that's worth $225 million per season, sources confirmed. There will also be an HBO Max element to the deal. ESPN and the NHL agreed to a seven-year deal for the league's main TV package in March.
Who are the TNT NHL studio analysts? ›
Studio personalities
- Liam McHugh: lead studio host (2021–present)
- Nabil Karim: ice-level reporter and fill-in studio host (2022–present)
- Anson Carter: studio analyst (2021–present)
- Rick Tocchet: studio analyst (2021–present)
- Paul Bissonnette: studio analyst (2021–present)
The Spittin' Chiclets Podcast co-host had to shave just the top of his head as a result of losing a bet to another co-host in Ryan Whitney.
Who is the best hockey analyst? ›
Bieksa is one of five nominees for “Best Sports Analyst” according to the 2022 Canadian Screen Awards. He, along with Hockey Night in Canada's Craig Simpson, is the only hockey analyst nominated.
The NHL's all-time leading scorer has agreed to become a studio analyst with American-based Turner Sports.
Is Gretzky still involved with Edmonton Oilers? ›
Gretzky resigned as vice-chairman of the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, saying he could not devote the time needed to the franchise given the pandemic and life changes.
Why is NBC losing the NHL? ›
“The challenge for NBC was ESPN took more than the majority of the Stanley Cups and a huge amount of NHL content. What was left was a smaller package than previously for NBC and something that was going to cost more than their current rights fee.”
Why is there no announcer in NHL 22? ›
Re: No commentary in any mode NHL 22
This normally happens when you have your audio settings set to a surround sound system. Changing it to stereo should resolve this.
Why does ESPN not show hockey? ›
Schreiber explained that hockey only comes up in coverage after major fights, and oftentimes the coverage "disses" hockey. Schreiber explained in 2007 that ESPN's coverage of the NHL has noticeably declined since the network lost hockey rights in 2004.
How much does Shaq get paid on TNT? ›
The newspaper reports that the 59-year-old basketball player turned commentator of “Inside the NBA” has three years left on a contract that pays him $10 million per season. His current contract expires after TNT's NBA deal expires in 2024-25.
How much do NBA analysts get paid? ›
NBA Salary FAQs
The salary trajectory of an Analyst ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $77,810 per year and goes up to $196,585 per year for the highest level of seniority.
How much does a sports analyst make at ESPN? ›
How much does an ESPN Sports Analyst make? As of Dec 1, 2022, the average annual pay for an ESPN Sports Analyst in the United States is $59,828 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $28.76 an hour.
What is Kyle Murray salary? ›
Kyler Murray contract details
Murray's contract is for five years and $230.5 million, with $160 million guaranteed.
What is Budda Baker salary? ›
As for how Brady's contract breaks down, Pro Football Network reports that Brady will earn $15 million salaries for each season, with $10 million roster bonuses. According to the site, Brady's salary counts for 14.1 percent of the Buccaneers' salary cap, which is estimated at more than $30 million for 2021.
Do NHL free agents get paid? ›
When you qualify an RFA, the offer the player can sign is, at minimum, the same amount of money as their base salary from the previous season. In most cases, teams retain their restricted free agents.
Do NHL interns get paid? ›
How much do NHL employees make?
...
NHL Salaries.
| Job Title | Salary |
|---|
| Intern - Hourly salaries - 4 salaries reported | $41,925/yr |
| Assistant salaries - 3 salaries reported | $41,721/yr |
18 more rowsgame broadcasts return to its airwaves. John Buccigross will host, after he served as primary host of the "NHL 2Night" studio show from '98-'04, when ESPN previously held NHL game rights.
Who are the commentators on TNT tonight NHL? ›
That's right — the gang of Liam McHugh, Paul Bissonnette, Anson Carter, Rick Tocchet and the Great One, Wayne Gretzky, are back, bringing all the entertainment and hockey insight with them.
Who is the girl commentator in NHL 22? ›
Carrlyn Bathe Hammer (@carrlynbathe) • Instagram photos and videos.
Why do NHL players not shave? ›
The Stanley Cup playoff beard has been an NHL tradition since the early 1980s, when the shaggy New York Islanders won four straight championships. It represents the players' singular focus, as if even personal hygiene is sacrificed in pursuit of hockey's holy grail.
Who is the most famous hockey commentator? ›
5 of the Best NHL Announcers
- Jim Hughson. Perhaps the hockey voice of our generation in Canada as the play-by-play caller for Hockey Night in Canada each and every Saturday night. ...
- Chris Cuthbert. ...
- Rick Jeanneret. ...
- Ron Maclean. ...
- Mike “Doc” Emrick.
The TNT analyst and co-host of Barstool Sports' “Spittin' Chiclets” show paid off a lost bet by shaving his head.
Who is the most liked hockey player? ›
1. Wayne Gretzky. Not only is Wayne Gretzky the greatest player to ever lace up the skates in the NHL, he is undoubtedly the most beloved player in the history of the game as well.
The Best Announcer/Analyst Since 2000: Vin Scully
This individual has been in the business for almost 50 years. At the age of 25, Scully became the youngest person ever to broadcast a World Series, which is a record that is still held to this day.
Who has the best fans in the NHL? ›
Why did Gretzky leave the Oilers? ›
In a statement posted to social media, Gretzky cited an inability to give the role the attention it requires. "The Oilers, their fans, and the city of Edmonton have meant the world to me and my family for over four decades — and that will never end," Gretzky wrote.
Why did Wayne Gretzky resign from the Oilers? ›
Edmonton Oilers vice chairman Wayne Gretzky has stepped down from his role within the organization. In a tweet Tuesday, Gretzky said “given the pandemic and other life changes, I realize I will not be able to dedicate the time nor effort needed to support this world-class organization.”
How much was Wayne Gretzky getting paid? ›
1979-1988
| Contract: | 10 yr(s) / $3,000,000 |
|---|
| Signing Bonus | - |
| Average Salary | $300,000 |
| Free Agent: | 1989 / UFA |
Despite the fact that he had just married Janet Jones, then a rising Hollywood actress just a month prior to the trade to Los Angeles, Gretzky claimed to have not wanted to leave Edmonton. Born and raised in Canada, Gretzky wanted to finish his career right where he started it.
Where are the Gretzkys moving to? ›
Wayne Gretzky is now St. Louis-based. Family moved to be closer to his 100-year-old mother-in-law (Janet Jones's mother).
Is Dustin Johnson still with Gretzky? ›
Paulina Gretzky and Dustin Johnson tied the knot in April 2022 in Tennessee. The eldest daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky started dating the pro golfer in 2013. In 2015, Gretzky and Johnson welcomed their son, Tatum. Their second son, River, was born in 2017.
Is NHL on the decline? ›
However, Hockey's view count dropped an astonishing 61% from the previous year in the 2020 season. It went up 2% in 2021, but to dip in more than half of a total view count in just a year is alarming.
Is NBC Sports getting Cancelled? ›
NBC will shut down its NBC Sports Network television channel by the end of this year. Programming on NBCSN—such as the NHL, English Premier League, NASCAR, and Olympics—will shift to USA Network and the main NBC broadcast channel.
's local TV story took a hit this season, as regular-season games on U.S. RSNs posted a 23% ratings drop compared to last year's shortened season, according to Nielsen data analyzed by my SBJ colleague David Broughton.
Do NHL broadcasters travel with the team? ›
But the team announcers aren't traveling, so when a club plays away from home, the broadcasters call games off a monitor.
When can NHL teams talk to free agents? ›
UFA's can begin meeting and interviewing with all teams on the day after the Entry Draft (or June 25 at the latest). They cannot sign contracts with new teams until July 1 at 12pm Eastern. This is the most common type of UFA.
When can NHL teams talk to free agents 2022? ›
When does NHL free agency start? The market to sign free agents in 2022 begins on Wednesday, July 13, at noon ET. Players that are unrestricted free agents (UFAs) cannot begin meeting and talking with teams until that date and time.
What replaced NHL TV? ›
But ESPN will also produce 75 national games each regular season and stream them on ESPN+ and Hulu, and it will stream more than 1,000 out-of-market games each regular season on ESPN+, replacing NHL.TV.
Is ESPN taking over NHL TV? ›
Now part of the ESPN+ base-tier subscription at no additional cost. Access over 1,000 out of market NHL games from every team, all season long. Blackouts and restrictions apply.
When did ESPN lose NHL? ›
At the end of the 1987–88 season, ESPN lost the NHL television rights to SportsChannel America, who paid $51 million ($17 million per year) over three years, more than double what ESPN had paid ($24 million) for the previous three years.
What was Wayne Gretzky salary? ›
CONTRACT HISTORY
| SEASON | SALARY |
|---|
| 1996-97 | $3,963,000 |
| 1997-98 | $6,500,000 |
| 1998-99 | $6,000,000 |
| TOTAL | $43,268,428 |
7 more rows1. Connor McDavid
- Total Earnings: $15.3 million.
- On-Ice Earnings: $10.8 million.
- Off-Ice Earnings: $4.5 million.
Wayne Gretzky: Quick Facts
| Full name | Wayne Douglas Gretzky |
|---|
| National Team | Canada |
| Playing Career | 1978-1999 |
| Salary | $45,079,614 |
| Net Worth | $250 million |
31 more rows8 Jun 2022
Players receive per diem at the start of training camp. It is very much needed, considering they are not paid their salaries until the regular season.
Who was the first NHL player to make $1000000 a year? ›
1971: Bobby Orr becomes the NHL's first million-dollar man when he signs a new contract with the Boston Bruins. Orr, coming off a record-setting 139-point season in 1970-71, is already the NHL's highest-paid player.
How much does a Zamboni driver make NHL? ›
They are typically paid in a range from $29,000-$31,000, sometimes earning up to $37,500 annually. Of course, salaries may vary based on skill level, location and years of experience.
Who is the richest hockey franchise? ›
The Toronto Maple Leafs are on top of the hockey world ... when it comes to how valuable their franchise is, according to Sportico. Sportico released its 2022 valuations for each NHL franchise, and the Maple Leafs have the highest value at $2.12 billion, $110 million more than the second-place New York Rangers.
How much does a waterboy make in the NHL? ›
Average Salary: $53,000
Job Description: Pouring water into sweaty dudes' mouths and holding their gross towels.
Who is the highest paid athlete in the world? ›
- Cristiano Ronaldo - $200 million.
- Kylian Mbappé - $110 million.
- Phil Mickelson - $102 million.
- Canelo Alvarez - $73 million.
- Stephen Curry - $54 million.
- Russell Wilson - $48.5 million.
- Max Scherzer/Justin Verlander - $43.3 million.
League rules actually prohibit NHL teams from paying their players bonuses for making the playoffs and winning the Stanley Cup. Only players on entry-level contracts and those over the age of 35 are permitted to have bonuses for playoff performances.
What was Gretzkys highest salary? ›
Since Gary Bettman took over as comissioner, NHL salaries have skyrocketed and, even with the introduction of a salary cap, it also continues to rise. Before Bettman was introduced as the comissioner, the highest paid player during the 1990-91 season was Wayne Gretzky, at $3 million a year.
Does Wayne Gretzky own coyotes? ›
Wayne Gretzky became a managing owner when he and Steve Ellman bought the now-Phoenix Coyotes in 2000. Prior to their purchase, the coyotes had four consecutive appearances in the post season. After Ellman and Gretzky took over, the Coyotes made it to the playoffs only once.
How much is Wayne Gretzky hockey card worth? ›
The most valuable Card of Wayne Gretzky is currently 1979 Topps #18 Wayne Gretzky PSA 10 by Topps from 1979 with a worth of approx. $1200000.0. The value of Wayne Gretzky Hockey-Cards has been decreasing for about -1.18% in the past 30 days and decreasing for about -7.9% in the past year.
