It’s tough being an Edmonton Oilers fan these days. One game you think they might make some real noise in the playoffs, the next game, you think they shouldn’t even make the playoffs.
But no matter how consistently inconsistent the Oilers may be, we can count on three things: Gene Principe will make terrible puns; Jack Michaels will make a reference to an obscure 1980s movie; and Louie DeBrusk will use the term “shooting mentality” at least five times a game.
The tragic troika of insipid host Principe, gravel-voiced shill Michaels and non-analytical analyst DeBrusk are indicative of how little Sportsnet thinks of this legendary team stuck out in the hinterlands, defined as ‘not in Toronto’.
I find Principe, with his oh-so-cute game introductions (oh, look! he’s wearing a wig!) and his painful, sub-Ron McLean puns, the least objectionable of the Oiler broadcast team, mainly because I can easily watch a game on tape (or whatever we call a recorded game), and simply fast-forward past his insufferable intros and trivial in-game factoids. Not so with the game commentators.
There is no escaping Michaels. I didn’t think it was possible to pine for the days of dreary Kevin Quinn, but I’ll take a dullard over a screaming shill. Michaels sounds like he gargles with razor blades. He is desperately trying to create some signature sayings – “DOWN the stretch we go”, and “PULSATING action”, and “THIS is why you LOVE the NHL”. He is obsessed with telling viewers the score, even though the score is always on the screen. And he says some truly stupid stuff. When the Oilers were upsetting the remarkable Boston Bruins, he actually said, “Could this be a Stanley Cup preview?”
Uh, no, Jack. No.
Then there’s Louie DeBrusk. A low-level NHLer in his day, DeBrusk’s analysis consists of little more than describing what just happened while watching a replay. He provides no insight, nothing that you haven’t just seen with your own eyes. And cliches? You got ‘em! If you played a drinking game where you had to take a shot every time DeBrusk said “shooting mentality” and “the blue paint”, you’d be wrecked by the first period. And like most hometown announcers, the players escape criticism. Even when an Oiler goalie whiffs on a shot that a blind amputee could have stopped, DeBrusk’s toughest comment would be “he might want to have that one back”. Hey, Louis, We’re not stupid. A bad play is a bad play. Have the guts to say it.
The poor quality of the broadcast team is a prime indication of how little the Oilers matter to the NHL, or the eastern (i.e. Toronto) media sports elite. The Oilers have been blessed with a generational talent in the form of Connor McDavid. But to the Toronto-centric media, anyone who doesn’t play in TO might just as well be playing for Toledo Walleye in the East Coast Hockey League.
For example, Maclean’s magazine issued its “Power List” of the most influential people in Canada. In their top 10 in sports, the number one spot went to an American, Scottie Barnes, of the Toronto Raptors. Number seven was the president of the Raptors. Number 10 was Hayley Wickenheiser, assistant GM of the Leafs. A once-in-a-generation hockey player tearing up Canada’s favourite league? Not even on the list.
The only hope for McDavid to get the national acclaim he deserves is if the Oilers win the Stanley Cup. And that’s as likely as Gene Principe actually saying something actually worthwhile.
In This Corner 
I thought I was the only one who can’t stand Jack Michaels. That fake voice that screams/growls ‘o-v-e-r-t-i-m-e!!!!!!’. Blech. I long for HNIC broadcasts where they have better play-by-play people. I hate watching on Sportsnet (like tonight).
Thanks for this. BTW, I like Gene!
Jack Michael’s is the worst commentator I’ve ever heard! Makes watching oiler games unbearable!!
As Louie DeBrusk would say, you’re absolutely right. He’s the worst. I listen with the sound turned down.
i totally agree with the posted comments. michaels and debrusk continually blab while the play is on going. oilers are buzzing the net and could score at any moment while those two blab about irrelavent cr*p. once the puck is in the net michaels says SCORES!. too late most of the time. they blab as if they`re at home in the garage drinking and bsing. both should watch john shorthouse call the canuck playxplay. he calls the play second by second occasionally commenting while the play is stopped or players are waiting for a line change. get it together you two and stop blabbing and call the play as it happens. can`t stand watching oilers with those two. i quite often mute the sound and watch.