As the excitement of the MLB playoffs collides with the anticipation of a new NHL season, a surprising controversy has erupted—one that few saw coming.

During a high-stakes Cubs game, ESPN announcer Ben McDonald made a comment about the Chicago Blackhawks and the NHL that has sent shockwaves through the hockey community and sparked heated debates across social media. What could possibly provoke such a strong reaction from fans and insiders alike?

McDonald’s remark, delivered live on air, has not only drawn the attention of devoted hockey supporters but also raised questions about the relationship between ESPN and the NHL—a partnership worth billions.

In a city where both baseball and hockey are woven into the fabric of sports culture, the timing of his words couldn’t have been more controversial. With the Blackhawks’ young stars in attendance and the new season just days away, the comment seemed to overshadow the excitement and optimism surrounding Chicago’s teams.

But is this simply a case of personal opinion gone viral, or does it hint at deeper tensions within sports broadcasting? What was McDonald’s real intent, and how are fans and the network responding behind the scenes?

Read on to uncover the full story behind this unexpected media firestorm.

MLB announcer for ESPN Ben McDonald

Photo credit: NHL.com

An ESPN announcer made a controversial comment about the NHL and the Chicago Blackhawks during a baseball game that hasn’t been well received by the hockey world.

It’s an exciting time to be a baseball fan, as the playoffs are now underway in the MLB. Big games will go down in the upcoming weeks and hype is through the roof.

The same thing can be said about the NHL. The 2025-26 season is on the horizon and fans already got a chance to see some action during the preseason.

In Chicago, the Cubs are currently competing against the San Diego Padres, and will look to clinch their way to the second round against the Milwaukee Brewers later today.

As for the Hawks, they will host the Minnesota Wild and the St. Louis Blues for the two remaining exhibition games, and will open their season next Tuesday against the Florida Panthers.

The Blackhawks’ young core, led by Connor Bedard, appears poised to show strides in the season. For the first time in years, they could finish the season in a better position than the 32nd rank in the standings.

However, Ben McDonald, an MLB announcer for ESPN, the official NHL broadcaster, isn’t feeling the hype.

ESPN Announcer Gets Widely Criticized For Controversial Comments About Hockey

During the latest Cubs game, Ben McDonald of ESPN mentioned that there was “zero chance” he would watch the Blackhawks season opener against the Panthers, despite working for the channel that paid billions of dollars for the NHL broadcasting rights.

This was also moments after Hawks players Nick Foligno, Connor Bedard, and Frank Nazar were shown attending the Cubs game.

Listen to his comments here, in a video posted by the Awful Announcing channel:

Many NHL fans were disappointed by those comments and voiced their dissatisfaction on social media:

“Really unfortunate that an ESPN employee would be making comments like this towards the NHL especially considering ESPN and the NHL have a $4.5B contract.”

McDonald later offered his thoughts on the whole issue. Here’s what he had to say:

This isn’t a fireable offense, and he has a right to share his opinion. ESPN surely didn’t like it, but in the end, there’s no harm in his words. Some might argue that this will end up helping the channel, as the clip was seen by a lot of people who could be more intrigued to watch hockey now.

After all, many hockey announcers would surely prefer to watch playoff hockey rather than the first MLB games of the season in the spring.