Prominent sports commentator Joe Buck has strongly criticized the St. Louis Blues’ decision to part ways with veteran announcer John Kelly, stating that the public backlash against the team is “warranted.”
The controversy began earlier this month when the Blues announced that Kelly, the team’s television voice since 2005, would be leaving after the next season. Starting in the 2025-26 NHL season, the team and FanDuel Sports Network will move to a simulcast model, with radio play-by-play announcer Chris Kerber and analyst Joey Vitale covering games for both television and radio.
During an appearance on 101 ESPN in St. Louis, Buck, the current voice of Monday Night Football, did not mince words. “They deserve the criticism. It makes no sense,” he said, while acknowledging he lacks inside knowledge of the organization’s reasoning.
Buck clarified that his critique was not directed at the incoming broadcast team. “They are phenomenal,” he said of Kerber and Vitale. “Kerber blows me away with how good he is on radio hockey play-by-play. I cannot imagine doing anything more difficult.”
Still, Buck expressed bewilderment at the decision to oust a broadcaster with Kelly’s deep-rooted legacy. Kelly’s father, Dan Kelly, is a Blues Hall of Famer who served as the team’s announcer for 21 seasons, and the broadcast booth is named in his honor. “How can you make this move with a trusted voice and somebody who’s got the legacy there, and somebody who’s just been all in and is a comforting person to listen to?” Buck questioned.
As a Blues fan, Buck also emphasized the value of local announcers, particularly during the playoffs. “You want the voices telling you about the game that you feel like they’re on your side,” he explained. “And you always knew where John stood. You always knew where his heart was. I don’t get it. It’s disappointing.”
Buck stressed that Kelly’s value is based on his own merit, independent of his family’s history with the team. “It’s about John Kelly. And that was shocking to me,” he stated.
He recalled learning of the news while at dinner with NHL stars T.J. Oshie and Matthew Tkachuk, both of whom have strong ties to St. Louis. “They were both shocked, beyond shocked,” Buck said. “It’s just stunning and disappointing to me. I’m sure there’s reasons… but this is one that I just don’t understand at all.”
