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NHL Analyst Mike Milbury Out At NBC After Insensitive Comments

NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 11: A Nashville Predators fan displays a sign referencing TV analyst Mike Milbury during Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Nashville Predators and the Pittsburgh Penguins, held on June 11, 2017, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Pittsburgh won the game 2-0. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire)

With the NHL getting ready to start up again this week, we all kind of assumed that Mike Milbury would remain on the NBC team despite comments he made last season. We were wrong. NBC waited until the last moment to announce that they were moving on from Milbury.

“We are grateful to Mike for all of his contributions to our coverage for 14 years,” NBC Sports said in a statement. “But he will not be returning to our NHL announce team. We wish him well.”

Last season Milbury caught fire for comments he made during the playoff bubble. He was speaking with colleague Brian Boucher on how playing in a bubble might actually be a benefit for some players.

“If you think about it, it’s a terrific environment with regard to — if you enjoy playing and enjoy being with your teammates for long periods of time, it’s a perfect place,” Boucher said.

“Not even any woman here to disrupt your concentration,” Milbury responded.

Mike Milbury would later apologize for his stupid comment.

“It was not my intention to disrespect anyone,” Milbury said in the statement. “I was trying to be irreverent and took it a step too far. It was a regrettable mistake that I take seriously.”


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The NBC team will look a lot different this year. After being the voice of hockey, play-by-play man Doc Emrick announced his retirement after last season. Now, Milbury won’t be around for the pre and post game.

Kenny Albert, Brendan Burke and John Forslund were named as replacements on NBC’s NHL team. Mike Babcock and retired NHL players Ryan Callahan and Dominic Moore will also join NBC for studio work.

It was simply time for Mike Milbury to go. His latest comment wasn’t the first time he’s said something dumb on the air, and it probably wouldn’t have been the last. It’s time to start moving hockey in the right direction.


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