If you are a hockey fan, then you know our sport has a ton of outstanding analysts.
Guys like Eddie Olczyk, Ray Ferraro, Brian Boucher, Mike Johnson, and many more. These guys all work hard, know this sport inside and out, and they make watching a game a great learning experience,
With that said, my favorite NHL analyst is none of the ones I mentioned above. The guy I love as an NHL analyst is someone who, in my opinion, is the best analyst in the game today.
I am talking about former NHL netminder Kevin Weekes. Weekes brings so much to the table for the likes of ESPN, TSN, and the NHL Network.
In my opinion, he is very much like John Davidson, who is now the president of hockey operations and alternate governor of the Columbus Blue Jackets, when he was the top analyst in our game, which is what Weekes is for the game today For starters, JD worked unbelievably hard at his craft.
Back when he was an analyst, JD was everywhere. He was the New York Rangers’ analyst for many years, all while doing national games, Stanley Cup Playoffs, Olympics, and more.
Much like JD, Weekes is incredibly hard-working. It is easy to see how well prepared he is every night he is in the studio, and you can hear it in his voice, in his analysis, and even in the response he gets from people sitting with him at the desk or online.
Davidson also had (still does) a ton of knowledge about the game. He knew players’ tendencies and backgrounds and seemed to know everyone in and around hockey.
Weekes is the same in this regard, as he has abundant knowledge that comes through on every broadcast. He seems to know something about every player, whether it is about their background or on-ice tendencies.
Speaking of knowing a ton about the league’s players, he brings the players’ perspective to every broadcast. When a player is struggling or on a hot streak, he tells us what it is like for a player to experience and feel these kinds of things while also showing us that these guys are humans just like us.
Lastly, JD was passionate about the game, and it shone through on every broadcast he did. He was a great spokesman for the sport and someone that everyone loved.
Mr. Weekes is the same way, as it is clear that he is unbelievably passionate about the sport. When he is on the air, I feel like he is having a conversation with the viewer, and not only does he share his perspective, he helps us to understand why he feels a certain way about things and invites us to share our thoughts too.
Simply put, Weekes is the new Davidson as he is not only a great analyst, but he is one of us – someone who is unbelievably passionate about hockey.
