Elliotte Friedman closer to Sportsnet return

With the NHL season rapidly approaching, we’re told Elliotte Friedman, temporary broadcasting free agent, is inching closer to making a deal to return to Sportsnet as the network’s lead hockey insider.

Not without what would appear to be some seemingly unnecessary haggling from the Rogers overlords, however.

Talk in hockey circles is that the telecommunications giant doesn’t want Friedman to also work on Amazon Prime’s midweek games, an assignment that wouldn’t appear to interfere with the influential NHL insider’s Sportsnet duties.

Meanwhile, others familiar with the situation warn not to dismiss Amazon as a significant player in landing the long time Sportsnet hockey voice.

Also in a similar contract snafu, we’re told, is former NHLer Kevin Bieksa, a powerful studio analyst and voice who rarely shies away from tough commentary.

This from Rogers as it prepares to embark on a 12-year, $11 billion contract with the NHL which cements them as Canada’s exclusive national rights holder.

And this as broadcasters ideally are getting serious about planning for the upcoming season.

Sources familiar with the negotiations believe that Friedman is close to returning to Sportsnet and Rogers, a company that has seen him rise from a junior radio voice on the FAN 590 to one of the most influential analysts in the sport.

As of Friday morning, nothing appeared imminent, however.

But the fact that there is some doubt has confounded many in the industry.

“It would be a massive loss, both of them, if (a deal doesn’t get done),” a broadcasting insider said. “Look at what they’ve done with some of their other (properties) recently. The (Sportsnet) product doesn’t mean anything on Saturday night.”

All this comes in an era when Rogers has shuttered radio stations across the country, eliminating sports content over those airwaves. As well, the price of Sportsnet+ continues to be jacked up with fewer properties for consumption.

Why is Rogers haggling with Friedman and Bieksa?

The delay in getting a deal done has confounded industry observers, leading many to wonder if the impasse is a sign of cost-cutting and if so, how will it affect the overall quality of the product?

The sense is that standards have slipped in recent years from a program — formerly known as Hockey Night in Canada — that once was an industry standard in this country.

But walking away from two of its most important voices could constitute a signal that they are fine with a diminished product, content wise.

In the case of Friedman, would Rogers also lose the terrific 32 Thoughts product, an informative and influential column and podcast? If so, another loss for the consumer.

In the case of Bieksa, sources have told us that he has entertained opportunities to work in the U.S.

Given their monopoly on national rights, perhaps the braintrust believes that game action is enough to reel in an audience that has nowhere else to go.

As is the case with any negotiations, all of this could change in an instant. Perhaps a deal is close. Perhaps Rogers will come to its senses. For now, though, it’s one of the more interesting off-season stories in the sport.

What about Ron MacLean and others?

Though yet to be officially announced, we’re told that long-time studio host Ron MacLean has quietly signed a one-year deal to remain in the national view.

As well, sources tell us that Sportsnet’s top game tandem of Chris Cuthbert and Craig Simpson have signed a two-year deal.

The rest of the crew? TBD, it would appear, at least publicly though there is some sense details will be firmed up by next week. We do know there will be changes as long-time analyst Kelly Hrudey revealed last month when he announced on social media that Sportsnet was letting him go.

Will this mean a totally new look for the studio show, especially on Saturday nights? And how much of those plans are tied to the status of Friedman and Bieksa? Stay tuned.

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