Ron MacLean returned home from the Stanley Cup final on Tuesday, but he's back at work tonight as host of the National Hockey League awards show on the CBC.
His schedule the past two months has been hectic. As host of Hockey Night in Canada, he was on the air almost every night during the first three rounds of the playoffs, and every other night in the final.
He will continue to be busy. In August, he will be the afternoon anchor of the CBC's coverage of the Athens Olympics. The day after the Games end, the World Cup of Hockey begins.
"It will be a crazy five months," he said.
But not as crazy as the 1991-92 season. The Toronto Maple Leafs missed the playoffs, which meant Hockey Night went on the road immediately for its playoff coverage. Also that year, he worked on the CBC's Albertville Olympic telecasts and the world track and field championships.
"That was the worst," MacLean said. "I was away from home eight months out of 12."
MacLean wouldn't make awards predictions, but says Tampa Bay Lightning star Martin St. Louis is a cinch to win the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player.
"I will say that I would be stunned if St. Louis doesn't win," he said. "That's the one sure thing to me. If you voted now, it might have been a tighter race [because of Jarome Iginla's performance in the playoffs]
"But I think the fact Marty won the scoring title, that he carried Tampa to first place in the Eastern Conference and second overall in the league -- I just think, inarguably, it was the MVP performance of the year."
Our predictions
Hart and Pearson Award (MVP as voted by players): St. Louis.
Norris Trophy, best defenceman: New Jersey Devils' Scott Niedermayer.
Vézina Trophy, top goaltender: Martin Brodeur, Devils.
Calder Trophy, rookie of the year: Andrew Raycroft, Boston Bruins.
Lady Byng, gentlemanly player: Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators.
Jack Adams, coach of the year: John Tortorella, Tampa.
Frank Selke, top defensive player: Kris Draper, Detroit Red Wings.
Rejigged CFL panel
TSN begins its Canadian Football League coverage next Tuesday without studio panelist Matt Dunigan. During the off-season, he was hired as coach and general manager of the Calgary Stampeders.
"Obviously, we wish him all the luck in the world," said Paul McLean, TSN's executive producer. "And from the articles I'm reading out West, he may need it."
(Laughter from participants in the conference call.)
But Dunigan's departure gave TSN the opportunity to try something new -- using active players, managers and coaches as guest panelists.
"I think it's novel in respect to any panel show north or south of the border," McLean said.
Panelist Chris Schultz says he loves the concept, although he concedes the guests may not be too candid about the people they compete against.
"The guests may not necessarily be on the edge when it comes to their comments," reporter-analyst Glen Suitor said. "But it will give the viewer a real perspective on the guys they play against on a day-to-day basis."
Panelist Jock Climie said the challenge for the regulars will be to make the guests feel relaxed.
"You want to get them away from the stock answers that you tend to get in post and pregame interviews," he said.
TSN may use a 10-yard virtual marker during the season. "I will give back 5 per cent of my contract to get that [10-yard marker]back," Schultz said. "I think it's awesome."
No hard feelings
In a classy move, Toronto Argonaut president Keith Pelley has hired Paul Romanuk to call Argo radio games. Pelley was president of TSN when Romanuk left the network to work as morning co-host of The Team all-sports radio station in Toronto. In his new job, Romanuk ridiculed TSN and its digital channels. Pelley was hardly amused. When The Team folded, Romanuk found himself out of work. TSN didn't exactly come calling.
Still with Romanuk, sources say he has applied for the Canadiens' radio announcing job with CJAD in Montreal. Dino Sisto is apparently out, permanently.
NBC Sports and Olympic chairman Dick Ebersol announced yesterday that the network's entire broadcast of the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics will be carried in high definition television. For Athens, NBC will use a 24-hour HDTV channel that will air an eight-hour package of HDTV content, plus two repeats.
Gentlemanly Russ
The CBC was able to cast a major star for tonight's NHL awards ceremony. Actor Russell Crowe, in Toronto shooting a boxing movie, volunteered to appear on the show. Crowe made the hockey movie Mystery, Alaska a few years ago. The Gladiator will present the Lady Byng.