Colin Dunlap has an idea for ESPN and Turner Sports on how to improve their NHL coverage: Bring in Paul Bissonnette.
On "The Fan Morning Show" Tuesday, Dunlap introduced the idea of Bissonnette, who's part of Barstool Sports' wildly entertaining and popular "Spittin' Chicklets" podcast, joining one of the new national broadcast teams.
"What if they got somebody like Bissonette or Ryan Whitney, and they said, 'Ham it up. Go crazy?,'" Dunlap said. "The people who live in Moose Jaw, or live in the middle of Saskatchewan that are 61-year-old guys, and swear by this and this … those people are going to be mad. But we want to bring in a new audience. Celebrate the 'Gong Show' side of hockey."
Hiring Bissonnette would certainly accomplish that. The hilarious ex-jock maintains an exceptional social media following, boasting 1.1 million followers on Twitter.
In addition to his work with Barstool, Bissonnette serves as a radio analyst for the Phoenix Coyotes, for whom he played five seasons. Bissonnette played 15 games for the Penguins in their Stanley Cup-winning 2008-09 campaign.
"If Turner were smart, they would call Bissonnette, they would call Whitney, they would call (John Tortorella)," added Chris Mack. "Those are the guys who are going to go on the air and tell you what they really think. People want entertainment value."
ESPN and Turner Sports each signed seven-year contracts with the NHL this spring. The two networks will split the Stanley Cup playoffs, though ESPN will feature more comprehensive regular-season coverage.
ESPN's relationship with the Penguins got off to a sour note, when anchor Randy Scott ludicrously compared Sidney Crosby to Tom Wilson after a tussle with the Flyers.
On Monday, ESPN reportedly added Ray Ferraro and Brian Boucher as NHL analysts — two traditional choices. Bissonnette and Whitney would add a younger feel to the broadcasts, and undoubtedly produce many viral moments.
We'll see if ESPN or Turner decide to be bold. News about their reported bidding war over Wayne Gretzky isn't very confidence-inducing.
"It is totally dumb. It is ridiculous," Dunlap said about Gretzky as a broadcaster. "It is homogenized hockey."
