Elliotte Friedman's future with Sportsnet just got a major update
It appears that things are trending in the right direction with Elliotte Friedman and Sportsnet.
Rumours have run amok over the past week about the possibility of Friedman’s departure from the network. The veteran NHL insider’s contract reportedly expired on Sept. 1, making him a free agent who could potentially sign with another network.
Losing Friedman would be a major loss for Sportsnet, as he is one of the most well-respected and influential insiders in the NHL. It would be almost impossible to fill his spot if the two sides failed to come to an agreement.
However, that doesn’t appear to be happening.
The Toronto Sun previously reported that Friedman is closing in on a deal with Sportsnet last week, and now the Toronto Star’s Jonah Sigel is corroborating that report, saying the two sides are nearing an agreement.
“Sources: Elliotte vacationing overseas, most deal terms have been agreed to with Rogers,” Sigel reported on Sunday morning. “The notion Amazon had made a significant or serious offer is complete fiction. There may have been discussions, but ‘Amazon wasn’t going to blow up their entire payroll for an insider.'”
Sources: Elliotte vacationing overseas, most deal terms have been agreed to with Rogers. The notion Amazon had made a significant or serious offer is complete fiction. There may have been discussions but "Amazon wasn't going to blow up their entire payroll for an insider"
— Jonah Sigel | Sports media + streaming (@yyzsportsmedia) September 6, 2026
Canadian hockey fans will certainly be happy with this latest report. While Sportsnet does employ other NHL insiders, none of them have the extensive résumé that Friedman carries.
There has been speculation that the hang-up between Friedman and Sportsnet has been the desire for the NHL insider to also appear on Prime Video Wednesday night broadcasts. That wouldn’t conflict with his regular Sportsnet duties, but Rogers was reportedly not a fan of the idea.
Locking down hockey’s biggest insider will be a big hurdle cleared for Sportsnet with the NHL season looming, but they aren’t out of the woods yet. Another big name in need of a new contract is Kevin Bieksa, who has become one of the most popular hockey analysts in the sport.
Biekas also became a free agent on Sept. 1 and has reportedly fielded offers from American networks. The former NHL defenceman joined Sportsnet in 2020 and quickly became a fan-favourite among Canadian viewers, offering a unique blend of humour and informed analysis.
It’s been a summer of change for Sportsnet, which has already parted ways with longtime broadcaster Kelly Hrudey and will no longer use the “Hockey Night in Canada” name for Saturday night broadcasts. We already know that veteran hockey broadcaster Ron MacLean will be back and that Jennifer Botterill is expected to move to Monday nights.
There will be a different look to NHL hockey on Sportsnet this season, and time will tell if Friedman and Bieksa are part of the network’s future.