“Battle of Ontario, Battle of Florida, Battle of Rantanen, Battle of Oilers/Kings…” – No, these are not the names of historic battles that have been fought for land. But come April 19, a war will start on ice. In fact, it’s the yearly tradition of the Stanley Cup that draws avid fans to root for their favorite teams. From old to young, the Stanley Cup has captivated generations of supporters who live and breathe the game.
Thousands will flock to the arenas to cheer their lungs out for their teams. And the ones who aren’t present rinkside, you will definitely find them in front of their television screens, focused on the game like it’s life and death. And making it more meaningful are the legends and former stars who break down the game for us. Hearing them talk, giving us elite-level analysis and unique insights, makes the experience so fulfilling, not to mention enriching and educational. So, it’s not a surprise that TNT has assembled a star-studded team to cover the Stanley Cup playoffs. Wait till you hear the names!
The NHLonTNT Twitter handle just dropped their announcement on April 16. And the caption says it all: “The Stanley Cup Playoffs start SATURDAY on TNT. The boys are ready.” Yeah, we are too. This time, the 1st round matchup looks so pulsating. And that needs world-class play-by-play coverage too. Keeping that in mind, TNT has brought in some of the best minds in ice hockey.
Are you ready? Joining the broadcast team is Wayne Gretzky. That’s right, the legendary Canadian player, ‘the Great One.’ You don’t need an introduction for the player who is regarded as the greatest ice hockey player ever by the NHL. 9-time Winner of the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player, scoring 215 points in a single season, Wayne Gretzky is undoubtedly in a league of his own. And that great legend will be on the TNT broadcasting team covering the playoff games right from April 19.
It’s not like one needs more incentive to join the bandwagon, but he will be joined by another Canadian hockey player. This 40-year-old former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman has been part of the NHL on TNT broadcasting team since 2021. And he will be returning to take his place as an analyst to cover the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2025. We are talking about bigshot ‘BizNasty,’ aka Paul Bissonnette, who has become rather famous as a media personality since hanging up his skates in 2017.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs start SATURDAY on TNT. The boys are ready (including Heinrich ) pic.twitter.com/bigzNdulws
— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) April 16, 2025
The star cast will also welcome back Henrik Lundqvist after his successful stint on the NHL on TNT show in 2024. This former NHL goaltender has played for the New York Rangers for 15 years (from 2005 to 2020), and so great has been his legacy at Madison Square Garden that they retired his jersey number 30 in 2021. Lundqvist won the Vezina Trophy in the 2011-12 season. Apart from this, the 43-year-old has also helped Sweden win the gold in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino.
The 4th expert member of this team is Anson Carter. Having played more than a decade in the NHL gives him the capability to break down the game not just from a winger’s perspective, which he was, but also to see the game more holistically. It also helps that he has been an analyst for NBC, covering the NHL regular season and Stanley Cup playoff games since 2013. That makes him quite a veteran in the broadcasting industry.
These 4 experts will be anchored by Liam McHugh, the star television sportscaster and the studio host for the NHL on TNT show. Overall, the team remains unchanged from last season, when they came together for the pregame and postgame coverage of the Stanley Cup playoffs. They also supplemented with their expert know-how during the first and second intermissions of the game, making them a complete package that will start from April 19.
We know we are excited. And they are ready, which means this Stanley Cup playoffs will be a banger. And we are in it all the way.
What’s the timeline of the Stanley Cup Postseason?
16 teams have managed to fight it out to qualify for the postseason. The other 16 – not so lucky this time. But when the Stanley Cup is the prize, only the best get to taste success. When the playoffs start on April 19, the 16 remaining teams play against one another in a knockout format till only 1 victor remains.
The first round has thrown some mouthwatering ties: the Battle of Florida – Tampa Bay Lightning vs. the Florida Panthers; the Battle of Ontario – Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators; and the Battle of Oilers/Kings – Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings. Each tie will be a best-of-7 series, in which the team to get the first 4 wins becomes the winner and progresses. Fun, isn’t it? 16 teams become 8, 8 become 4, 4 become 2, and eventually, one team lifts the Stanley Cup.
Last season, it was the Florida Panthers who lifted their first-ever Stanley Cup. Who will it be this time? We will get to know the winner by June. Starting from April 19, the 4 rounds of playoff series will continue for 2 months, with June 23 the last designated date for the Stanley Cup playoffs, which means the last possible date for the Stanley Cup final series.
Mark your calendars. You are about to enter the most exciting period of the NHL season, and it only gets better.
The post Everything You Need to Know About TNT Broadcasting Team for Stanley Cup Play-Offs appeared first on EssentiallySports.
