Kerber and Vitale … are excruciating

[Backesdraft]

I’m a huge Kerbs fan. He’s got a great voice and a great feel for the game. Vitale…not so much. He’s so ADD and hyperactive and I don’t think he’s going to be capable of turning that off. He’s just not going to work in this kind of format.

[IsDurbanodoingtime]

Remember, they are RADIO guys, where it's a habit to overtalk everything (and tell lame stories) to fill the void created by a lack of visual content. It remains to be seen whether they will do anything to adjust, given that they still will be simulcast on the radio. That's one of the real drawbacks to this approach.

They need to learn to shut up. Go back and listen to some old dan kelly or foster hewitt radiocasts.

[xpath]

I've heard worse than Kerbs on the play by play when he's actually doing it, but again I'll voice my opinion that he and Vitale together are, as you put it, excruciating.

I keep thinking, they have to just be like this because it's preseason. They have to get better and act like professionals in the regular season, right?

Not holding my breath on that one.

Yeah, play by play he's not bad it's just the cringy tangents

[stlblue06]

Man some old stiffs in here. First it’s the preseason. I recommend listening to any other broadcast and not be bored by the announcers. I watched a period or 2 with Eddie O and Forsling in Seattle (2 of the “top” national broadcasters in the NHL) a few days ago. They were talking about the ice cream someone gave them at the start of the period for the ENTIRE period.

Most announcers have no ability to have funny banter. Let’s give Kerbs/Vitale time to get used to tv.

[mph6689new]

Unfortunately, I agree. Change is always tough, so there will be an adjustment. But, They are tough to listen to. Vitale goes on sports talk shows and blathers on forever about non-hockey items. It is kind of a thing. That can fly on sports talk where they need to fill time with something, and have the time.

It is not translating well to play-by-play. I have listened to preseason games on radio while driving. It is frustrating. I hear hockey being played in the background, but the two of them forget they are supposed to paint a picture with their words.

I really hope this changes with the regular season, but I would imagine they won’t be able to just change their ways.
Vitale takes forever to make a point.
At least on tv, I will be able to see what is happening myself.

[esp31]

Brutal. I disagree about Kerber being a good play by play guy. Back in the day, I liked him with Chaser on radio but on TV you can see how much he's behind the play or talking about something else and has to interject a goal call.

[MGS_Blues]

I don't know how anyone listening on the radio would have any idea of what is happening on the ice. Kerber and Vitale offer very little game information. Neither one rarely even tells you who assisted on a goal. I miss JK and Rivers already.

[cooksie72]

Vitale is BRUTAL! Talks way too much.

YEP and about absolutely nothing. I know more about his chickens then what is going on during the hockey game or any radio conversation regarding hockey. Blues are going to regret this one.

[Cajanek-Spielmacher]

omg, 1st world problems all over this thread! If I am watching the game I do not need a sec by sec diatribe. I really never listen to the games on the radio. Center Ice is my friend so Kerbs was never a thing for me.

[Aesa]

I think that if Ketbs had a decent color guy that knew the game was more important than listening to himself talk, opinions about Kerbs would change. When he actually gets to call the game, he does a relatively good job.

[seattleblue]

"you're all wrong because I pride myself on a [shirt] experience to begin with" lol nice one

[theograce]

omg, 1st world problems all over this thread! If I am watching the game I do not need a sec by sec diatribe. I really never listen to the games on the radio. Center Ice is my friend so Kerbs was never a thing for me.

Hockey itself is a 1st world issue/game to begin with?

I mean I can look away when they do the pp dance.

The product is dated and lame. There’s ways to make it more engaging

[BobbyOrr]

Just HORRENDOUS

Vitale has to go, he is Terrible, BRUTAL! Talks way too much.
Rivers until you find someone good.
This was a huge Mistake to save $.

[BalotelliMassive]

Having a good pbp guy for televised hockey is a must - it's hard to tell who's who with the speed of the game and camera movements. Time to get a vpn to watch the opponents feed.

[Inglewood Jack]

When ya take the meat out of a hamburger and put in a bunch of filler and condom-mints to save $, it's no longer a burger and is a cheap dripping mess.

[Old_Goat]

Interesting. I've very rarely listened to any of their radio broadcasts and I have not seen any of these preseason broadcasts. So, I am relying on what I am reading here, particularly the assessment that Kerber is "behind the play." That's very disappointing.
I have no doubt that Vitale is a complete bust. From the little bit that I have observed either online, TV, etc., he is immature and below average intelligence...he babbles way too much in a sad effort to be the center of attention. Note, he even alluded to that fact with a self-deprecating comment that the "Hey, I went to CBC, so what do you expect." I heard it with my own ears. (For the record, I did not go to that school, I did not go to one of its historic rival schools, I don't know enough about it nor it's alumni to make any kind of assessment about the quality of its education system or students.)
Unfortunately, i think it will be difficult contractually to replace him during the season, so we are likely stuck for this year. I'm hopeful that with a solid, focused color analyst to highlight and point out important nuances to play during a game breaks, and whom does his homework before each game to have credible insight, then Kerber will be able in the future to also focus on calling the play real time.
We'll see how it goes. If the volume has to be turned off, then that will be unfortunate, as you will be limited in having a feel for play away from the puck not seen on screen.