Pierre McGuire
Encyclopedia
Pierre McGuire is an ice hockey
analyst for National Hockey League
broadcasts on NBC and Versus
in the United States
. Until 2011, he was a prominent hockey analyst on The Sports Network
in Canada
. Previously, he was a player, coach, and scout.
s as a scout and assistant coach
with the Pittsburgh Penguins
in and . He then joined the Hartford Whalers
as an assistant coach and was later named assistant general manager. On November 17, 1993 he was named head coach
, leading the team to a 23-37-7 record in the after replacing Paul Holmgren
in mid-season. Holmgren replaced McGuire as head coach following that campaign.
From 1994 to 1996, McGuire worked as a pro scout and assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators
.
English-language radio broadcasts on CJAD 800 with Dino Sisto.
When TSN re-acquired the Canadian national cable rights to NHL hockey in 2002, McGuire was hired as its lead hockey analyst. With TSN, McGuire called the games along with the play-by-play voice of Gord Miller
or Chris Cuthbert. He also did special hockey events for TSN, including the NHL Entry Draft
, and international events like the IIHF World Junior Championships
. He also hosted a segment known as "McGuire's Monsters", where he covers a player with a significant impact through a combination of skills.
McGuire joined NBC Sports
acquired the rights to NHL games in 2006. He usually works as an "Inside the Glass" reporter with the broadcast team of Mike Emrick
and Ed Olczyk
.
After the 2011 NHL Draft, McGuire left TSN to work full time for NBC Sports
and Versus
. He will continue to appear on TSN Radio
.
McGuire also writes for Sports Illustrated
and provides frequent commentary on New York's WFAN
, Toronto's Fan 590, Ottawa radio station
, the Team 1200, the Ottawa Senators
fan podcast SensUnderground, and Montreal's TSN 990 where he can be heard on the Mitch Melnick
show, the TEAM 1040 in Vancouver heard on the Canucks Lunch with Rick Ball http://www.team1040.ca/shows/canucks_lunch/, as well as Wednesday mornings on Calgary's Fan 960.
While some people enjoy McGuire's analysis and commentary his style does lend itself to criticism. Even members of the media, who are normally very reserved in their criticism of peers, have taken shots at McGuire. Some have pointed to his lack of credibility as an analyst due to dubious performance as a hockey executive while others have mocked his style as a broadcaster.
, NHL player Tie Domi
countered that McGuire was completely off-base. McGuire later retracted part of his claim by saying he never should have given a percentage but that he still believed strongly that assertion was true. In the end, the players accepted a salary cap arrangement in the 2004 CBA
.
and has split his life and citizenship between the United States and Canada. He has in the past been a resident of Alpine, New Jersey
and currently resides in New Canaan, Connecticut
after previously residing in Montreal, Quebec for several years.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
analyst for National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
broadcasts on NBC and Versus
Versus (TV channel)
Versus is a sports-oriented cable television channel in the United States. It was previously known as Outdoor Life Network and was launched on July 1, 1995, focusing on fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Until 2011, he was a prominent hockey analyst on The Sports Network
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Previously, he was a player, coach, and scout.
Hockey career
McGuire won two Stanley CupStanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s as a scout and assistant coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
with the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
in and . He then joined the Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
as an assistant coach and was later named assistant general manager. On November 17, 1993 he was named head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
, leading the team to a 23-37-7 record in the after replacing Paul Holmgren
Paul Holmgren
Paul Howard Holmgren is an American former professional ice hockey right winger who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota North Stars. He moved into coaching after his playing career, serving as head coach of the Flyers and Hartford Whalers...
in mid-season. Holmgren replaced McGuire as head coach following that campaign.
From 1994 to 1996, McGuire worked as a pro scout and assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
Broadcasting career
From until , McGuire served as colour commentator for the Montreal CanadiensMontreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
English-language radio broadcasts on CJAD 800 with Dino Sisto.
When TSN re-acquired the Canadian national cable rights to NHL hockey in 2002, McGuire was hired as its lead hockey analyst. With TSN, McGuire called the games along with the play-by-play voice of Gord Miller
Gord Miller (sportscaster)
Gord Miller is a Canadian sportscaster for the cable networks, TSN and Versus. Working alongside Pierre McGuire, Miller has been the lead National Hockey League play-by-play announcer for TSN since 2002, when the network re-acquired national broadcast rights for the NHL...
or Chris Cuthbert. He also did special hockey events for TSN, including the NHL Entry Draft
NHL Entry Draft
The NHL Entry Draft is an annual meeting in which every franchise of the National Hockey League systematically select the rights to available amateur ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirements...
, and international events like the IIHF World Junior Championships
World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world...
. He also hosted a segment known as "McGuire's Monsters", where he covers a player with a significant impact through a combination of skills.
McGuire joined NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
acquired the rights to NHL games in 2006. He usually works as an "Inside the Glass" reporter with the broadcast team of Mike Emrick
Mike Emrick
Michael "Doc" Emrick, is an American sports commentator noted mostly for his work in ice hockey. Emrick is currently the lead announcer for NHL national telecasts on both NBC and Versus...
and Ed Olczyk
Ed Olczyk
Edward Walter "Eddie" Olczyk is an American former head coach for the National Hockey League Pittsburgh Penguins and former center for Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins...
.
After the 2011 NHL Draft, McGuire left TSN to work full time for NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
and Versus
Versus (TV channel)
Versus is a sports-oriented cable television channel in the United States. It was previously known as Outdoor Life Network and was launched on July 1, 1995, focusing on fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports...
. He will continue to appear on TSN Radio
TSN Radio
TSN Radio is a semi-national sports radio network in Canada carried on AM radio stations owned by Bell Media's Bell Media Radio division. The TSN Radio brand, and much of the network's content, is partially shared with Bell Media's television sports channel, The Sports Network...
.
McGuire also writes for Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
and provides frequent commentary on New York's WFAN
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
, Toronto's Fan 590, Ottawa radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
, the Team 1200, the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
fan podcast SensUnderground, and Montreal's TSN 990 where he can be heard on the Mitch Melnick
Mitch Melnick
Mitch Melnick is a radio sports broadcaster in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.A 30-year veteran of radio in Montreal, Melnick is a star of Montreal’s English all sports radio station, Team 990 and can be heard providing insight and analysis every weekday from 3pm-7pm as host of Melnick in the Afternoon;...
show, the TEAM 1040 in Vancouver heard on the Canucks Lunch with Rick Ball http://www.team1040.ca/shows/canucks_lunch/, as well as Wednesday mornings on Calgary's Fan 960.
While some people enjoy McGuire's analysis and commentary his style does lend itself to criticism. Even members of the media, who are normally very reserved in their criticism of peers, have taken shots at McGuire. Some have pointed to his lack of credibility as an analyst due to dubious performance as a hockey executive while others have mocked his style as a broadcaster.
Stances on issues in hockey
McGuire has been outspoken as an advocate of removing the red line and allowing skilled players to play a skilled game without clutching and grabbing impeding them. His views of hockey have him campaigning for all players to wear partial visors. With respect to fighting, McGuire has professed that he loves this aspect of the game but he believes for the game to sell in the United States and for the game to progress, this aspect of the game must be removed. McGuire's outspoken nature provided one of the more interesting stories during the 2004–05 NHL hockey lockout. After McGuire claimed that, if asked to vote privately, more than 70% of NHL players would accept an owner-imposed salary capSalary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap is a cartel agreement between teams that places a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both...
, NHL player Tie Domi
Tie Domi
Tahir "Tie" Domi is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. During a sixteen-year NHL career when he was known for his role as an enforcer, he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets....
countered that McGuire was completely off-base. McGuire later retracted part of his claim by saying he never should have given a percentage but that he still believed strongly that assertion was true. In the end, the players accepted a salary cap arrangement in the 2004 CBA
NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement
The NHL collective bargaining agreement is the basic contract between the National Hockey League team owners and the NHL Players Association , designed to be arrived at through the typical labor-management negotiations of collective bargaining...
.
Personal
McGuire was born in Englewood, New JerseyEnglewood, New Jersey
Englewood is a city located in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 27,147.Englewood was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township and the remaining portions of...
and has split his life and citizenship between the United States and Canada. He has in the past been a resident of Alpine, New Jersey
Alpine, New Jersey
Alpine is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located northwest of Midtown Manhattan. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 1,849....
and currently resides in New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, northeast of Stamford, on the Fivemile River. The population was 19,738 according to the 2010 census.The town is one of the most affluent communities in the United States...
after previously residing in Montreal, Quebec for several years.