from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

On Wednesday, a new NHL season will begin and the largest and most powerful voices in hockey are mostly those of former backup goaltenders, third-liners, failed coaches and fired general managers.

Not a former star — player or championship coach — to be found among the largest or most prominent broadcasters in the game.

The voices of hockey in America — those who make a difference — are Mike Milbury, Barry Melrose and Pierre McGuire, none of whom reached star status as players, coaches or general managers.

In Canada, with the new landscape of hockey on Rogers Sportsnet, and TSN maintaining its historical place in the landmark, the hockey voices — not the reporters, necessarily — are the same as they have been in the past.

Aaron Ward and Glenn Healy, Jeff O’Neill and P.J. Stock. The Rogers docket will include Nick Kypreos, Doug MacLean, Mike Johnson, Darren Pang.

Not a former star among them.

Which begs the question: Why is it baseball, basketball and football draw their largest stars to the broadcast booth, but hockey does not?

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