Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Wayne Gretzky To Headline TNT’s NHL TV Coverage

  • The Great One will work as a studio analyst during Stanley Cup Playoffs and other pivotal moments of NHL season.
  • Kenny Albert and Eddie Olczyk being hired for play-by-play and game analysis.
John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

Turner Sports is poised to announce Wayne Gretzky, Kenny Albert, and Eddie Olczyk as its first NHL TV team Wednesday.

Turner’s TNT is expected to officially announce the trio sometime Wednesday morning, said sources.  

Gretzky, arguably the greatest hockey player in history, will appear as a studio analyst throughout the upcoming 2021-2022 season, then ramp up his TV appearances during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Albert and Olczyk will work play-by-play and game analysis.

Gretzky will earn around $2 million a year for his first full-time embrace of TV, said sources. Charles Barkley of TNT’s “Inside the NBA” is a big hockey fan. Barkley’s expected to occasionally kibbitz with Gretzky on NHL coverage.

On May 6, Front Office Sports reported both Turner and ESPN were interested in hiring the “Great One” as they take over the NHL’s U.S. media rights from NBC Sports. The New York Post first reported that Albert, the radio voice of the New York Rangers, was landing the leading play-by-play job, succeeding the retired Doc Emrick at NBC.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Matthew Mayich’s Family Rips Coach Exit as ‘Negotiated Agreement’

Arizona State and Greg Powers “reached a mutual agreement to part ways.”
Oct 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas arrives at the arena before the Penguins host the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena

NHL’s New Wave of GMs Is Built Different

“I am in the prediction business,” Devils GM Sunny Mehta tells FOS.
Marina Williams-Walter Cronkite Sports Network

ASU Hockey Home Opener Marred by Player Collapse Fallout

ASU’s hockey home opener featured more absences amid an ongoing investigation.
A drone view shows the Paramount water tower at Paramount studios in Hollywood and the Hollywood sign, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., August 24, 2026.

Newly Formed Skydance Is a Force in Sports Media

The large-scale deal creates a sports media colossus.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/20/26 – Knicks’ $4K Opener, Brewers’ $2,800 World Series, Colts Call Peyton?

0:00

Featured Today

Why Europe Is Pumping Out NBA Superstars

The NBA and NCAA have an increasingly European flavor.
October 15, 2026

College Flag Football Is Outgrowing Its DIY Era

Women have been building the college game themselves at the club level.
Action Images/Peter Cziborra
October 9, 2026

Is Leicester City’s $264 Million Price Tag Too Rich for Hungry Investors?

After falling from grace, how much is a former top club worth?
Oct 3, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer waits to run onto the field prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
October 7, 2026

Who Is Alabama Football in Year 3 Under Kalen DeBoer?

The No. 6 Crimson Tide host No. 2 Georgia on Saturday.
Cubs behind the scenes
October 6, 2026

Hollywood and TikTok: Sports Media’s New ‘Blueprint’

Teams and leagues are pouring money into the quest for fans.

Netflix Releases Q3 Earnings, Preps Big Q4 for Sports

The streaming giant tried to put a hopeful spin on staff cuts.
Josh Pate Front Office Sports Tuned In
October 20, 2026

Josh Pate: Internet Hate Is ‘Not Real Life’

Pate learned the lesson on campus trips alongside Danny Kanell.
CBS Sports NFL B Team covering the Cincinnati Bengals versus New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 25, 2022.
October 20, 2026

Evan Washburn Eyes March Madness for His ‘Instant Film Room’

The CBS sideline reporter has put a new spin on postgame interviews.
Sponsored

Blake Griffin’s Plan for Media Domination

The former NBA star is building a second act across media & entertainment.
Oct 28, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Hall of Fame quterback Troy Aikman stands with his Monday Night Football Broadcast announcer Joe Buck before a game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
October 19, 2026

Buck, Aikman Avoid the Elephant in the ‘MNF’ Booth

Aikman and Buck focused purely on football in their ‘MNF’ intro.
October 19, 2026

NBC Sports Faces Pivotal Week

The network and its parent company are at a key inflection point.
Sponsored

Why Brands Are Betting On Major League Soccer

Discover why brands are investing in MLS as the league builds on World Cup momentum to drive fan engagement and sponsorship growth.
October 19, 2026

WNBA Finals Goes Hollywood With ‘Orange Carpet’ Show

E! is bringing red carpet coverage to Game 2 of the Finals.