The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing at this time. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators have engaged in one of the more entertaining matchups of the postseason. At this time, Toronto owns a 2-0 series lead.
However, there have been some concerns over the production value of the postseason. These concerns are not limited to the Maple Leafs and Senators. However, these teams were recently at the forefront of a rather scathing criticism of the television production value.
Rodgers Hit With Massive Criticism Over Maple Leafs-Senators Production
Recently, the NHL announced a new Canadian broadcasting deal with Rogers Communications. It’s a 12-year agreement that will see NHL games broadcast to the Canadian audience through the 2037-28 season.
“The NHL has been a terrific partner for over a decade, and we’re proud to continue our partnership and bring more great fan experiences and best-in-class broadcasts to Canadians,” said Tony Staffieri, President and CEO of Rogers Communication, in a statement released to the NHL. “Hockey is Canada’s game and we’re proud to be the home of hockey. “Sports are core to our company, and these rights are the most valuable sports rights in Canada.”
Many hoped this contract would lead to some intriguing broadcasts. However, one former hockey and baseball reporter in Toronto is not a fan. Howard Berger, who covered the Maple Leafs and Blue Jays for over 20 years, took aim at Rogers for cheapening out on their coverage of the next two games in this series.
“BREAKING: It appears that stunningly cheap #Rogers/#Bell/#MLSE has kept #Leafs radio broadcasters Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph at home for Games 3 and 4 in #Ottawa. They will call the action off a TV monitor. Can you even imagine?” Berger wrote in a social media post on Thursday morning.
The Maple Leafs head to the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada for the next two games. Toronto has a 2-0 series lead, as previously mentioned. However, past playoff failures are certain to creep into the minds of Toronto fans as the series continues.
Toronto has not won the Stanley Cup since 1967. From 2004 to 2022, the team advanced past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs just once. They broke this streak in 2023 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, they were once again bounced in the first round against the Boston Bruins last year.
The Maple Leafs certainly hope their playoff fortunes are better this time around. But they face an opponent equally as hungry as they are. The Senators are making their first postseason appearance since 2017. They lost in the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.
Since then, Ottawa has endured a long and painful rebuild. It appeared as if they made strides in 2022-23. Unfortunately, they missed the playoffs that season. The Senators went on to endure a disappointing 2023-24 season that also kept them from postseason hockey.
Both teams have something to play for. The fact that this series is also another chapter in the Battle of Ontario is not lost on them, either. These next two games are certainly going to be must-see contests for hockey fans.
