Kevin Bieksa's future with Sportsnet in jeopardy following surprising report
Photo credit: Image via Sportsnet
Ron MacLean appears headed back to Sportsnet's Saturday Night Hockey coverage, but two of the network's most recognizable hockey voices are still waiting on new deals as the 2026-27 NHL season approaches.
Sports media insider Jonah Sigel reported this week that MacLean is expected to return, while Elliotte Friedman and Kevin Bieksa remain in limbo.
Rumblings: sounds like Ron Maclean will return to Roger's Saturday night hockey, barring the unforeseen. Same time neither Elliotte's or Kevin's contracts have been finalized as of yet. Some talk about one or both seeking to do work with Amazon too, but nothing done with either.
What This Means for Sportsnet's Panel
Friedman and Bieksa have become one of the more popular pairings in hockey media, with Friedman's insider reporting on 32 Thoughts complementing Bieksa's blunt, player-first perspective from his time with the Vancouver Canucks.
Losing either, let alone both, would represent a significant shift for Sportsnet's on-air identity heading into the new Rogers media cycle.
MacLean, meanwhile, is reportedly closing in on a two-year extension, according to additional reporting from Daily Hive.
He has been a fixture of Hockey Night in Canada since the 1986-87 season and remains one of the most enduring personalities in Canadian sports broadcasting.
Amazon Looms as a Wild Card
The mention of Amazon adds intrigue given Prime Video's new 12-year Wednesday Night Hockey package launching this season.
If Friedman or Bieksa were to split time across networks, it could signal a broader shift in how top hockey voices are used across platforms.
Nothing is finalized yet, and Sigel's report notes uncertainty remains for both broadcasters as Rogers finalizes its on-air roster for the year ahead.
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