Hockey fans concerned for prominent analyst suddenly absent

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Liam McCormick
July 21, 2024 (10:06)

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The 32 Thoughts Podcast with Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek is one of the biggest in hockey, but fans have been concerned as one co-host has seemingly quit.

Since the night of the NHL Draft, Jeff Marek has not joined the Podcast at all, the show cancelled their free-agent episode, and Marek hasn't posted on social media at all. Fans have begun to notice his absence, and speculate as to what's going on. After cancelling the free-agent roundup episode, it's definitely not just summer vacation.

Fans are hoping that he and his family are all okay, and that this absence isn't related to any personal problems. It would be extremely difficult to see him quit altogether, and fans are already missing their coverage.

It's possible that there is an ongoing contract dispute between Marek and Sportsnet, which has caused similar departures of media members in the past. It would also make the most sense considering his abrupt stoppage after the draft.

Marek is one of Sportsnet's best analysts and has incredible chemistry with Elliotte Friedman on the best podcast for the NHL. If this is solely a contract dispute, hopefully Sportsnet finds a way to resolve it and bring Marek back into the fold, for whatever reason he's away.

Across the NHL landscape, there will be a more than a few media changes next season. For the first year in a long time, a new broadcaster will enter hockey - Amazon. They'll be responsible for the Monday Night broadcasts in Canada, and perhaps they're trying to poach Jeff Marek to be the figurehead of their NHL move.