The New Jersey Devils and MSG Networks announced that Deb Placey would be leaving for a job with the NHL. This puts a hole in their broadcast crew that will be hard to fill.
The New Jersey Devils broadcast will once again see a new face in a new place. Deb Placey will be moving to a position with the NHL after spending six seasons with the organization. In just the past few years, the Devils had to replace color commentator Chico Resch with Ken Daneyko, radio commentator Sherry Ross with Resch, and added Bryce Salvador as a between the glass type reporter.
Honestly, most of these moves worked, but there was always backlash at first. Nobody was happy when Ross was let go, even though fan favorite Resch came on to replace her. Chico leaving the broadcast booth, and taking Chico Eats with him, did not make anyone happy. Placey is just another person leaving the Devils.
This doesn’t even count the team losing Rich Chere, Tom Gulitti and Andrew Gross leaving for other opportunities (or retirement). The familiar faces are becoming fewer and farther between. With how much Daneyko does with the NHL Network, he could be next.
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Placey was great at what she did. She asked the right questions during the intermission reports. She had useful insight for pregame shows. Placey kept us intrigued in what’s becoming a lost art. With the era of instant information, pre and post-game shows are usually uninteresting. Somehow, we found ourselves keeping MSG (or more likely, MSG Plus) on for an hour after the game was over.
This is obviously much different than when the Devils lost Ross. This was out of the Devils hands. Placey is getting a promotion of sorts, and we have to be happy for her even if we’re sad for us.
Who knows who will end up taking her place. It’s a weird position to be in, since they have to work for MSG, but at the same time have that close relationship with the Devils. Shannon Hogan currently does the job for the New York Islanders. Maybe she makes the move to cover the team with the reigning MVP, but that leaves MSG in the same position. Arda Ocal would also be an interesting pick, but not really sure if that’s a promotion in his eyes. This will likely be an outside hire, unless they use someone to fill the slot for this year before making a permanent hire like they did with Chico.
Either way, Deb Placey will be missed. NHL is getting a talented broadcaster, even if we don’t know exactly what she’s doing there.