After 14 years as an analyst for the NHL on NBC, Mike Milbury will not be returning.
«We are grateful to Mike for all of his contributions to our coverage for 14 years, but he will not be returning to our NHL announce team. We wish him well," said NBC Sports in a brief statement.
Milbury was included in the Toronto bubble for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, but left after controversy regarding a statement he made about women being a distraction for the players.
"In light of the attention caused by my recent remark, I have decided to step away from my role at NBC Sports for the remainder of the Stanley Cup Playoffs," Milbury said at the time. "I do not want my presence to interfere with the athletes as they try to win the greatest trophy in sports."
NBC released a list of analysts and commentators for the 2020-21 season Monday morning that did not include Milbury, but did include former Detroit and Toronto head coach Mike Babcock as a studio analyst. That is an interesting switch as Babcock has dealt with his own controversy since being fired as the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Several players have stated Babcock was verbally abusive and manipulative during his time behind the bench.
Milbury played 12 seasons in the NHL, all for the Boston Bruins. After his retirement from playing, he served as assistant general manager and head coach for Boston, as well as general manager and head coach for the New York Islanders. He is no stranger to controversy on and off the ice and has been criticized heavily a few times during his 14 years with NBC for things he's said on the air.
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