Kerber and Vitale … are excruciating

[ShakeyWalton]

Vitale is horrendous. Ray Combs horrendous.

[ChooseBlues]

I weighed in on this in another thread, but since this one’s gaining traction, I’ll chime in here.

Chris Kerber’s radio legacy is solid—his energy and storytelling have been part of Blues hockey for years. Joey Vitale is fine, I personally preferred Rivers in the booth.

Now that he’s handling the TV broadcast, it’s become much more obvious how often he misses the play entirely or lags behind the action—something several others have pointed out as well.

Kerbs and Joey seem to think there are lulls in the game while the play is happening. It’s like they’re bored or so used to the rhythm that they feel the need to fill “dead space” with unrelated personal stories—even when the puck is in motion.

And here’s the thing—they’re around the team and the game every day. Maybe it’s all become routine to them. But for fans tuning in, this isn’t routine. We don’t have that luxury. We’re excited. We’re invested. We want to hear what’s happening on the ice, not a tangent about golf or someone’s vacation while a scoring chance is unfolding.

Worse yet, the tangents aren’t just off-topic—they’re so droning and meandering that they actually make you space out. I’ve found myself zoning out during live play because the commentary feels like background noise instead of play-by-play.

And let’s be honest—Kerbs’ real superpower has always been as a salesman and schmoozer. The guy can pitch anything. But lately, it’s veering into used car salesman territory. Smarmy, overly polished, and too focused on selling commercials instead of calling the game. Kerbs and Joey spend way too much time making the evening about them rather than the hockey. That’s not what fans are here for.

Preseason or not, this isn’t just a format change—it’s a mindset shift. The simulcast model demands sharper focus and real-time engagement.

I'm giving them a 9-game trial once the season kicks off. I will be tuning into the opposing broadcasts if they fail that trial.

[oldbattler]

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.

+1

[netboy65]

I am going to resist judging their performance until it’s a real broadcast. These preseason game broadcasts are bit of a hodgepodge using the scoreboard video

Exactly. It’s preseason, these aren’t playoff games

I’m watching the game not too worried about what the announcers are saying white noise most of the time.

^This

[oldbattler]

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.

I agree.
Dan Kelly , John Kelly , Ken Wilson could paint a Picture of game with their Play by Play whether it was on Radio or TV.
Chris Kerber can,t paint a Wall if he had to IMO.
Kerber please tell me the players name that has the puck and where it is at on the Ice and the other details of the game with your Play by Play.
Thats is what you getting paid for, isn,t it.

Both of you.
Please Stop all the Story telling and your comedy stories .
I don,t mind it once in awhile but not all thru the whole game.

I hoping they both get better as time goes by but from listening to both of them on the previous Radio broadcasts years before and now on TV..

I am very disappointed so far.

LA Fans get to Listen to a good NHL Hockey Play by Play announcer. John Kelly.
Right now Blues Fans are not IMO

[noted]

This is brutal. This endless inane self involved cleverness instead of what’s happening on the ice. This is a pathetic downgrade.

What’s done is done but the new ones they’ve chosen deserve to get rough feedback.

I like Kerber and Joey a lot. I think people just like to complain...

No sale. Most everyone posting here has heard them do a broadcast before. I'm not looking forward to this, they have already destroyed their credibility with me. The out-of-pocket cost to me (reportedly $209 for NHL Center Ice, plus $119.99 for ESPN+) has gone up and the quality of the broadcasts I'm paying for will drop significantly. This promises to be an exciting season on the ice, we fans deserve FAR better consideration and treatment and as a paying customer I have a right to speak up.

You are entitled to your opinion however little value it may have.

[Hooking]

Kerbs is very arrogant

I always saw him that way - it's almost like hanging around with Chase made him feel like a tough guy

Back when I had social media, quite a few years ago when it was still called twitter, he was very preachy, opinionated and got a little political sometimes. Made anyone who disagreed with him feel small and because he is more popular than anyone who followed him so anyone who disagreed with what he said would get trashed by him and his followers. Perhaps that has changed now I have no idea but I just don't care anymore.

[Hooking]

Now that he’s handling the TV broadcast, it’s become much more obvious how often he misses the play entirely or lags behind the action—something several others have pointed out as well.

To this point, it was so easy to hear on the radio if a team scored before he said something because the crowd reactions or horn were (what felt like) minutes before he would say what happened.

[zuck698]

All I know is that, for all the many years of listening to JK and Panger, not once did I hear dialogue regarding the use of salt and garlic go on for over a good 3-5 minutes of play by play, like I witnessed last night! It was just ridiculous and sad! Like others, I hope that someone rattles their cages and please tell them to call the game at hand for the regular season. Use the intermissions to babble on, if they must.

[oldbattler]

As many of us said, they made the wrong choice on who to keep.

Beyond the finger to tradition, beyond what was really the right thing to do, they made the wrong choice on talent.

$$$$$

Panger and Kelly would, I imagine, cost many multiples of what Kerber and Vitale cost.

I am admittedly not an expert on the salaries of sports broadcasters but I’d be surprised if it was many multiples.

A national guy for a big sport like football I can see getting paid millions. But a regional guy for hockey? How much can a top guy like Kelly even command? I’d be curious to know how much he made vs how much Kerbs is making. Or even Rivers vs Vitale in cost. That couldn’t have been much different I don’t think. Not that Rivers was good but he’s quite a bit better than Vitale unfortunately.

I wonder the same thing.
If it wasn,t that much of a Difference between the John Kelly and the Kerber broadcast team
Why not let John Kelly and Jamie Rivers do the Tv and Radio simulcast.
But I doubt we ever fine out.

[seattleblue]

This is brutal. This endless inane self involved cleverness instead of what’s happening on the ice. This is a pathetic downgrade.

What’s done is done but the new ones they’ve chosen deserve to get rough feedback.

I like Kerber and Joey a lot. I think people just like to complain...

No sale. Most everyone posting here has heard them do a broadcast before. I'm not looking forward to this, they have already destroyed their credibility with me. The out-of-pocket cost to me (reportedly $209 for NHL Center Ice, plus $119.99 for ESPN+) has gone up and the quality of the broadcasts I'm paying for will drop significantly. This promises to be an exciting season on the ice, we fans deserve FAR better consideration and treatment and as a paying customer I have a right to speak up.

You are entitled to your opinion however little value it may have.

... sez the outlier minority opinion to the overwhelming majority opinion ...

[mdkieffer]

This is brutal. This endless inane self involved cleverness instead of what’s happening on the ice. This is a pathetic downgrade.

What’s done is done but the new ones they’ve chosen deserve to get rough feedback.

do not know why John Kellly was let go in favor these two clowns

[TAFKAP]

I don't get how people thought this was going to be a seamless transition. He hasn't done TV. There is a learning curve. I really don't care because nothing changes for me. I listen to most of the games.

[run-n-gun]

Huge downgrade. Blues fans deserve better.

[blues2112]

I don't get how people thought this was going to be a seamless transition. He hasn't done TV. There is a learning curve. I really don't care because nothing changes for me. I listen to most of the games.

Exactly.

Posters — maybe different ones — ripped JK for "Thank you, thank you, thank you" and Panger (or Federko) for talking too much, and both for mentioning Ottawa 67s. And Rivers for whatever, etc.

[TheHighHat]

I guess I’ve been spoiled by great announcers…I just don’t see how anybody could actually enjoy Kerber. He’s the absolute worst PBP guy in Blues history.

Ron Jacober enters the chat and in his best Edward G. Robinson impersonation says to Kerber (Steve McQueen):
"You're bad kid, but as long as I'm around, you're 2nd worst"