Elliotte Friedman and Kevin Bieksa will return to Sportsnet’s Saturday NHL coverage, the network confirmed in its September 9 announcement, joining Ron MacLean and Colby Armstrong on the panel for Saturday Night Hockey.
The show premieres October 3. Its new name accompanies the end of NHL broadcasts on CBC, but the lineup keeps Friedman and Bieksa in the Saturday roles that had been the subject of conflicting reports as the season approached.
The Toronto Sun’s Rob Longley reported September 9 that both had agreed to terms after negotiations following the August 31 expiry of their previous contracts. The network did not disclose their salaries or the lengths of their new agreements.
A confirmed lineup after the contract reports
The Sporting Page’s September 8 report described Friedman as nearing a deal and Bieksa’s position as unresolved. The announced panel now settles the central question for viewers: both will be part of Sportsnet’s Saturday coverage this season.
The announcement does not address reports about Amazon’s interest or possible outside contributions by either broadcaster. Their return is confirmed; the details of those discussions remain undisclosed.
MacLean will host the four-person panel. Kelly Hrudey is departing after saying Sportsnet had informed him that his contract would not be renewed. Hrudey, who moved into full-time broadcasting after his playing retirement in 1998, has said he is not retiring.
Sports Business Journal, citing the Toronto Sun, also reported that Jennifer Botterill’s contract was not renewed. The newly announced Saturday panel therefore retains familiar members while changing the group viewers have watched in recent seasons.
Four games on the first Saturday
Sportsnet describes the weekly Saturday presentation as a doubleheader featuring a Canadian club in each matchup. Its opening October 3 schedule contains four games, with three starting simultaneously.
Ottawa visits Toronto, Montreal visits Pittsburgh and Seattle visits Edmonton at 7 p.m. Eastern. Calgary visits Vancouver at 10 p.m. Eastern.
The network’s regular-season national coverage begins September 29 with Montreal at Toronto at 7 p.m. Eastern, followed by Vancouver at Edmonton at 10 p.m. Eastern.
Monday and Wednesday follow different routes
David Amber will host Monday Night Hockey’s studio coverage with Luke Gazdic and Justin Williams. It begins October 5 as a Sportsnet+ exclusive. Direct Sportsnet+ subscribers receive it within their subscriptions; television customers should check the separate add-on rules and provider exemptions rather than assume that having the Sportsnet channels grants identical access.
Prime Video’s national Wednesday package begins September 30, with the New York Islanders visiting Toronto. That Wednesday package remains separate from the Saturday broadcast on which Friedman and Bieksa will appear.
For Saturday viewers, the confirmed news is that Friedman and Bieksa are staying. They will return to a familiar place in the hockey week, but on a broadcast that has changed its name and its relationship with CBC.
Updated September 12, 2026, following Sportsnet’s September 9 lineup announcement. This article replaces the earlier account of unresolved negotiations.
