Jennifer Botterill gets a new NHL broadcasting job after dismissal from Sportsnet

It has been a turbulent offseason for Canadian hockey broadcasting, and not just on the ice. Rogers Sportsnet underwent a sweeping overhaul of its on-air talent heading into the 2026-27 season, leaving some familiar faces on the outside looking in. Among the most notable casualties was Jennifer Botterill, the Hockey Hall of Famer and three-time Olympic gold medalist who had been the only woman on the Hockey Night in Canada studio panel for more than half a decade. But as it turns out, Botterill did not stay unemployed for long.

A Summer of Upheaval at Sportsnet

The changes at Rogers this summer were nothing short of seismic. Long-time analyst Kelly Hrudey learned back in June that his contract would not be renewed, bringing an end to a 28-year run with Hockey Night in Canada. Scott Oake, the beloved host of the After Hours segment, had already retired in April. And Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi, which had been on the air for 18 years, was also discontinued. On top of all that, Sportsnet and CBC jointly announced that the public broadcaster would stop airing NHL games entirely, severing a relationship that dated all the way back to 1952.

Botterill's departure was not made public in the same way as Hrudey's. It only became apparent when Sportsnet unveiled the studio lineup for its rebranded Saturday Night Hockey on September 9. Colby Armstrong had taken her seat alongside Kevin Bieksa, Elliotte Friedman, and Ron MacLean. The new format, set to launch October 3, will feature a weekly doubleheader guaranteeing at least one Canadian team in every broadcast.

While all of this was unfolding, Botterill kept relatively quiet about her next move. That changed when she sat down with The Globe and Mail's Rachel Brady ahead of the release of her book, Why Not You: My Story of Perseverance, Hockey, and Olympic Gold. In that interview, she confirmed she would be joining the NHL on TNT for the upcoming season, primarily working as an in-game analyst in the broadcast booth rather than in the studio.

Botterill Brings a Rare Perspective to American Airwaves

This is not Botterill's first stint with TNT. She has previously handled both studio and game coverage for the network. As recently as May, she called a second-round Stanley Cup Playoffs game in Philadelphia alongside Alex Faust and, coincidentally, Colby Armstrong, the very same analyst who replaced her at Sportsnet. In February, NBC also tapped her for a high-profile assignment at the Milano-Cortina Olympics, the first Winter Games to feature NHL players since 2014, where she served as the inside-the-glass analyst for the women's tournament.

Botterill spoke graciously about her time with Rogers despite the unceremonious end. She expressed gratitude for the friendships she built during her years on the Sportsnet panel while making it clear she is excited about the opportunity ahead. And there is plenty of reason for TNT to be excited about adding her. A three-time Olympic gold medalist, five-time IIHF World Championship winner, and unofficially the greatest scorer in NCAA history, Botterill brings a perspective that is genuinely one of a kind. She may not have played in the NHL, but her resume at the international level speaks for itself. She is also the sister of Seattle Kraken general manager Jason Botterill, so hockey runs deep in her family.

TNT is expected to formally announce its full broadcast plans later this week, and the specifics of Botterill's workload and crew assignment remain unclear. What we do know is that she will be in the booth for TNT's first preseason broadcast on Friday, when the Dallas Stars face the Minnesota Wild at 8 p.m. ET. She will be joined by play-by-play voice John Forslund, reporter Lauren Jbara, and Armstrong. For American hockey fans who may not have been as familiar with her work on Canadian broadcasts, this season should serve as a proper introduction to one of the sharpest minds in the game.