Gene Principe not part of the Edmonton Oilers playoff game broadcast crew
Edmonton Oilers broadcasts on Sportsnet will look a little different when the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin.
When the Oilers series against the Anaheim Ducks gets underway on Monday, a familiar face won’t be in his usual spot on the broadcasts.
On Friday, Sportsnet revealed its broadcast lineup for the NHL playoffs. The Oilers-Ducks series will be called by Jack Michaels and Louie DeBrusk, but Gene Principe won’t be the rinkside reporter.
This is a change from last year, when the Oilers broadcast trio was kept in tact to start the playoffs. Even when Chris Cuthbert and Craig Simpson subbed in to call Oilers games during the Western Conference Final and Stanley Cup Final, Principe was kept on as the rinkside reporter.
Principe was also the rinkside reporter for the Oilers’ first-round series in 2024, though that was with Harnarayan Singh and DeBrusk.
Scott Oake will instead be the rinkside reporter for the Oilers-Ducks series, just as he did for Oilers first-round series in 2023 and 2022.
The good news is Principe will still be involved in the series. His work will include pre-game and post-game interviews, and live hits, among other duties, per Daily Hive’s Preston Hodgkinson.
I’ve confirmed that @GenePrincipe will still be doing broadcast work for the Oilers-Ducks series
He will be handling pre and postgame duties, conducting interviews, sharing stories, and doing other live hits for Sportsnet https://t.co/tPIQ5FAbM2
— Preston Hodgkinson (@NHLHodgkinson) April 18, 2026
There was a wide range of reactions from Oilers fans online, as Principe is beloved in Edmonton.
“Tonight we riot,” one fan said on X. “Gene is a national treasure.”
“WTF, Sportsnet, we want our main 3!” said another. “Haven’t you learnt this over the years?”
Other fans were more understanding with their reaction, particularly given these are the final playoffs for Oake, who is retiring.
“Retirement last ride is fine,” one fan wrote. “A very likeable media personality.”
“We all love Gene, but Scott is retiring, and I’ll be honoured to be a part of his last playoff run,” said another. “If it’s anyone but Gene, I’m happy it’s Scott.”