MAJOR | Sportsnet employee confirms the the HNIC rumors: Calls them out big time for release

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Felip Gosselin
July 16, 2023 (6:27 PM)

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There's been rumors going around that Hockey Night in Canada was turning a major corner within their panel.

Howard Berger released �privileged' information that the HNIC panel would look differently heading into next season, even revealing that only Eliotte Friedman would be safe from those changes:

"We may not recognize the Hockey Night In Canada panel next season," the source told Berger. "Based on what I'm told, only Elliotte Friedman is safe from the changes and cost�cutting measures on the horizon."

The rumors fired up the web, especially since it concerns the beloved former Canucks' Kevin Bieksa. The former defenseman has been a star in the making ever since he joined the panel and the idea of his removal has caused a stir.

John Shannon, commentator at Sportsnet, adressed the subject when he was on Sekeres and Price earlier. The television veteran called out Berger big time for his poor behaviour and confirmed that there were talks on �'cost-cutting measures'' at Sportsnet:

"I can only tell you it's rumour & innuendo...what they're going through is absolutely embarrassing...I'm so pissed off at Howard Berger for writing what he wrote...that should be left private."

At the moment, nobody took a stand on the subject, no official source have spoken in that regard. However, where there's smoke, there's usually fire and it would be a huge loss for Sportsnet if they were to let Bieksa go.