According to reports, the free agent broadcasters are speaking with one of Sportsnet’s rivals since they don’t have a contract in place.
Ron MacLean will extend one of the longest and most recognizable broadcasting careers in Canadian hockey history by returning to Sportsnet for the 2026–27 NHL season.
Today, Jonah Siegel of the Toronto Star writes that MacLean will return to the Sportsnet hockey panel despite the fact that Rogers Sportsnet has not yet finalized agreements for individuals such as Kevin Bieksa and Elliotte Friedman.
Siegel mentions Amazon Prime as a possible alternative for the two well-known analysts and states that neither Friedman nor Bieksa have contracts for the next season.
I mean…
I believe that Sportsnet placing their trust in MacLean above Bieksa and Friedman speaks volumes about their business practices. Despite MacLean’s undeniable status as a legend of Canadian broadcasting, his appeal has declined in recent years, especially following the controversial and well-publicized dissolution of his relationship with Don Cherry.
In the interim, Friedman has made a name for himself as the sport’s unquestionable insider, and Bieksa has revolutionized the media industry since leaving the NHL in 2018.
Although nothing has been decided and it would be premature to state that either guy is definitely departing Sportsnet, the likelihood is especially fascinating considering that Prime Video is embarking on a new 12-year exclusive deal to air Wednesday Night Hockey in Canada and certain playoff series beginning in 2026–2027.
Of course, Friedman brings years of broadcasting experience to the table. Prior to joining Sportsnet in 2014, he started his career in sports media in the 1990s, worked in both radio and television, and spent 11 seasons on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. Since then, he has arguably become the most linked and influential NHL insider in the industry, combining breaking news and trade reporting with his regular 32 Thoughts work and a special knack for turning even the tiniest league rumor into captivating television.
Bieksa used a considerably different path to get to the television studio. In addition to playing for other teams in the league for more than ten years, the ex-NHL defenseman’s most significant accomplishment was playing a crucial part of the Vancouver Canucks teams that made it to the Stanley Cup Final in 2011. However, Bieksa soon established himself as unique, even though many former players attempted broadcasting after retiring. He brought with him a sharp sense of humour, a willingness to question conventional thinking, and—perhaps most significantly—absolutely no fear of expressing what he thinks. Additionally, he brought the viewpoint of a player who had recently retired.
Friedman’s chemistry with him has grown to be quite useful to Sportsnet. Friedman can be purposefully vague, cautious, and analytical when discussing a growing narrative or safeguarding sources. Bieksa, on the other hand, is usually the ideal counterbalance: sarcastic, doubtful, and more than happy to interrupt Friedman with a sarcastic poke when the insider begins to delve too far into one of his infamously complex explanations.
Because neither seems to be striving too hard to create television chemistry, their bond appears real. Friedman joins in as Bieksa makes jokes about his idiosyncrasies, and the two can easily transition from serious hockey analysis to lighthearted debates and back. In numerous respects, they symbolize the modern Sportsnet panel at its best: one provides the data, the other provides the player’s point of view, and both contribute enough individuality to make an intermission segment seem less rehearsed.
Because of this, the most recent contractual ambiguity should be observed. Although losing either Friedman or Bieksa would be huge for Sportsnet, losing both would fundamentally alter the character of its NHL coverage. And if Amazon Prime Video is able to entice one or both into its burgeoning hockey operation, Canadian viewers may soon find that the Friedman-Bieksa double act is valuable enough to follow wherever it goes. Uncertainty remains the watchword for the time being, though: while reports indicate talks and a potential interest in Amazon labor, no agreement with either Sportsnet or Amazon has been revealed.
