Thu Oct 02 21:40:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
During an MLB playoff broadcast on ESPN, analyst Ben McDonald openly stated he wouldn’t be watching ESPN’s upcoming NHL tripleheader, even though the Florida Panthers, a team ESPN is promoting, would be raising their Stanley Cup banner. This prompted an awkward exchange with the announcer and a sharp retort on social media from ESPN hockey announcer John Buccigross, who highlighted McDonald’s lack of postseason innings in his MLB career. The incident occurred during a cross-promotional segment intended to boost viewership for the NHL games. A similar promo attempt during a later game was met with silence.
**News Article:**
**ESPN Analyst Declares ‘Zero Chance’ of Watching NHL Games, Sparks On-Air Tiff**
**NEW YORK** – ESPN’s attempt to cross-promote its upcoming NHL tripleheader during an MLB playoff broadcast backfired spectacularly on Sunday when analyst Ben McDonald declared he had “zero chance” of watching the games. The incident occurred during ABC’s broadcast of the San Diego Padres-Chicago Cubs game. Announcer Kevin Brown asked McDonald about the Florida Panthers’ chances of a three-peat, implicitly promoting the team’s banner-raising ceremony during the NHL tripleheader.
McDonald’s blunt response, “There is zero chance I’ll be watching,” created an awkward on-air moment.
The remark drew a quick response from ESPN hockey announcer John Buccigross, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to jab at McDonald, writing, “Zero is also how many postseason innings Ben McDonald pitched in his MLB career.”
The exchange highlights the challenges of cross-promotion and the potential for unintentional, and sometimes humorous, conflict within the media giant. A similar promotional attempt during a subsequent Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees game was met with silence, suggesting a lesson learned from the earlier on-air gaffe. The NHL regular season kicks off next week, and ESPN is hoping the controversy won’t deter viewers from tuning in.
First Piper 