Darren Pang will be missed in St. Louis

Pang leaves Bally Sports Midwest for NBC Sports Chicago

Darren Pang, the color commentator for the St. Louis Blues for the past 14 years that included their 2019 miracle run make the Stanley Cup Playoffs that they eventually won, has left Bally Sports Midwest for NBC Sports Chicago to be the color commentator for the Blues’ biggest rival Chicago Blackhawks, a team he played for in the NHL for parts of 3 seasons as goalie.

Pang came to the Blues in 2009, thereby sending Bernie Federko to studio coverage.

Pang is expected to continue his national assignments on TNT for NHL on TNT.

Todd Panula’s Bleedin’ Blue post on Pang leaving the Blues could impact broadcast quality:

When the St. Louis Blues brought in Darren Pang in 2009, it was met with a little skepticism by a certain portion of the fan base. Pang was an outsider and “replacing” a team legend.

Bernie Federko had spent the most recent time as the Blues color analyst, but while he was fine, he did not have the pedigree of Pang. Also, as we have learned from his varying duties with the team’s broadcasts changing, Federko wanted to spend more time with his family and all the time necessary to prepare for broadcasts takes away from that.

Pang came to the Blues from the Arizona Coyotes, but also spent several seasons as one of the commentators for ESPN’s coverage of the NHL. Of course, what many had an issue with was Pang being a former goaltender of the Chicago Blackhawks.

How dare the Blues bring in a former enemy to analyze their team. Am I right?

Pang quickly put those fears to rest. In his 15 years with the Blues, he was just enough of a homer to satisfy the hardcore fans while giving fair analysis that would still benefit a neutral.

You forgot, almost immediately, that Pang played for our rivals to the north because of his affable and jovial nature. Often, the only time you remembered it is when the staff for Fox Sports Midwest and then Bally’s Midwest would bring up highlights of Blues players scoring on Pang to poke fun at the former goalie.

Panger always took it in stride and had a wonderful laugh that made you want to laugh with him, never at him. Frankly, he will go down as one of the best color commentator’s in team history.

Dan Caesar’s St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports media column reveals that Bally’s financial issues and experiences with a similar situation with the Arizona Coyotes may have played a role in Pang’s departure:

He was employed in St. Louis by Bally Sports Midwest, whose owner — Diamond Sports Group (a division of Sinclair Broadcast Group) — is going through bankruptcy restructuring. In his new job Pang, who was a Blackhawks goalie for parts of three seasons in the 1980s, will work for the team. Blackhawks telecasts are on NBC Sports Chicago, which has no Diamond ties.

[…]

Pang, 59, said that his experience of having previously worked in a bankruptcy environment played a role in his decision. The Phoenix (now Arizona) Coyotes were in that plight when he moved to St. Louis.

“So I was prepared for a slow process and long, drawn out negotiation” with Bally, he said. “The timing of Chicago being so aggressive in their talks with me, making one offer then coming back with another offer that was higher than the first, that pushes things along in a quicker way than maybe it can be done with the financial stress of Bally.”

The Arizona situation might have influenced his latest decision.

[…]

Given that Pang is leaving in large part because of the bankruptcy situation with Bally Sports Midwest’s parent company, it seems unlikely that BSM will pursue a big-name (and high-priced) replacement from out of town. Bally didn’t go on the cheap when it brought Chip Caray in from Atlanta as its lead Cardinals play-by-play announcer this season, but that was for the primary spot on its top property.

“We strive to continue to bring Blues fans the outstanding coverage they deserve,” Donovan said in his statement in reference to the job search.

There are several local logical candidates, with Jamie Rivers heading the list because he often has filled in for Pang when he has been absent for his network commitments over the past two years (he missed 12 of BSM’s 70 Blues telecasts this season). Rivers, a defenseman who began his NHL career with the Blues in the 1995-96 season and wrapped it up with them in 2006-07 after stints with six other teams, also has been a BSM Blues studio analyst.

[…]

Another candidate could be Blues radio analyst Joey Vitale, a native St. Louisan who played for Pittsburgh and Arizona in his NHL career that spanned at least parts of six seasons ending in 2015-16. Vitale, who has been in the radio role for the last five years, made his Blues television debut last season when he filled in on a BSM studio show.

Kerber, who like Vitale work for the team and not a broadcast outlet, is high on his partner’s viability as a television prospect.

Pang gave his heartfelt goodbyes to the organization on the Blues website:

A letter to you, the great fans and friends I've made in St. Louis.

Where do I begin, really? Where does this letter start?

Does it begin with a round of golf at Blackstone Country Club in Peoria, Arizona in 2009? I got a phone call then that would turn the next 14 years into the best ride of my life.

[…]

Before I signed my contract with JD, former Blues President Peter McLoughlin and the President of then-FOX Sports Midwest Jack Donovan, I made one very important phone call to Bernie Federko. I had played against him several times, but I didn't KNOW him. He had a statue, a sweater hanging in the rafters and a Hockey Hall of Fame ring. I was going to be coming in as a new broadcast partner, and his position was going to change in the broadcast booth. I wasn't coming if it didn't sit well with him. What I found out rather quickly in this conversation is that he is the same Hall of Famer off the ice as he was on it - a person full of character, integrity and honor. He welcomed me and my family with open arms, and off we went. I will never forget that talk with 24.

Coming to St. Louis, I knew there would be questions from you - the fans - about a former Blackhawk goalie calling Blues games (although my 81 career games in Chicago wasn't exactly the same as Ed Belfour and his history against the Blues). I was ready for that. And the fans were just awesome. If they hadn't been, I'm sure Chaser had my back, as did the Alumni and Bruce Affleck, one of the greats in the history of the Blues franchise on and off the ice.

I asked JD about what the reaction from the fans might be. How could I broadcast for the Blues if I never played for them? I mean, I played for the Hawks, the team the city despised the most. And vice versa. His answer was quick and to the point: "Don't kid yourself, Panger, you weren't that good! You'll win them over by being you. You've been doing national TV for over 20 years. If it doesn't work out, we will all know it and you can move on." It was great advice, big boy, and I always appreciated that.

[…]

When I arrived in St. Louis, a Stanley Cup seemed so far away. But as the years went on, from Andy Murray, Davis Payne, Ken Hitchcock and Mike Yeo, there were some incredible playoff series against teams like the Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks, powerhouses in the Western Conference. There was a window, though, that I felt could lead to one or more Cups for the Blues. The culture with the players, the expectations after some great trades and then when Chief took over the reigns, it felt like they would never lose.

And the boys didn't.

[…]

As you can probably tell, I really don't know how to end this. Decisions like this one don't get made overnight. They are painstakingly difficult, especially when you care so much about a place, a job and the teammates that surround you.

So for now, I just want to say thank you - to everyone I've mentioned, to everyone I may have forgotten to mention, but especially to you - the fans. You made this ride one that I will never forget.

I'll forever be indebted for my time with the Blues and Bally Sports Midwest.

Every Blues fan, including me, will miss Panger on the Bally Sports Midwest telecasts of Blues games and his “Holy Jumpin’” phrase.