Gary Thorne interested in returning to NHL broadcasting with ESPN

On Tuesday, the NHL and ESPN agreed to a new seven-year deal worth more than $2.8 billion, which will give the network exclusive rights to broadcast four Stanley Cup Finals on ABC between the years 2022 and 2028, among other rights.

While this alone was very exciting news for hockey fans, even better news came out Wednesday when legendary announcer Gary Thorne made it clear he would love to return to broadcasting NHL games once again.

«I'd love to talk to them about it,» Thorne said to Richard Deitsch of The Athletic. «I'd love to talk about it with ESPN and see what direction they're going to take with it, what the schedule is going to look like, all of that. But from the primary foundational question of, 'Is this something that interests me?' Yes, it does.»

Thorne was the main hockey voice for ESPN from 1992-2004, calling all but one Stanley Cup Final in that span. He has several iconic calls, including Ray Bourque hoisting the Stanley Cup, as well as Paul Kariya's playoff goal versus the New Jersey Devils after being knocked unconscious earlier in the game.

The now 72-year-old has spent the last 14 seasons working in the MLB for the Baltimore Orioles, but was told this offseason he wouldn't be returning for a 15th year. While it remains to be seen, hockey fans all over would without a doubt love to have Thorne back calling games.

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