Mike Milbury out as NHL analyst with NBC Sports
NBC Sports is moving on from long-time hockey analyst Mike Milbury.
As the NHL season gets ready to start on Wednesday, NBC Sports announced their game and studio commentators. Milbury was not on the list.
“We are grateful to Mike for all of his contributions to our coverage for 14 years,” NBC Sports said in a statement reported ESPN. “But he will not be returning to our NHL announce team. We wish him well.”
Milbury was pulled from coverage in August when he made on-air comments about having no women in the league’s quarantined bubble.
During a game between the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals, analyst Brian Boucher talked about the bubble being “the perfect place” for players who enjoy playing hockey and being with their teammates for long periods of time. Milbury responded that there are “not even any women here to disrupt your concentration.”
The comment drew widespread criticism.
He later apologized: “It was not my intention to disrespect anyone. I was trying to be irreverent and took it a step too far. It was a regrettable mistake that I take seriously.”
He stepped away from the network a few days later.
Milbury, 68, was a former player, coach and general manager for the Boston Bruins, as well as head coach and general manager for the New York Islanders.
He worked with NBC Sports since 2008.
Frank Carnevale is the TribLive multimedia editor. He started at the Trib in 2016 and has been part of several news organizations, including the Providence Journal and Orlando Sentinel. He can be reached at fcarnevale@triblive.com.
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