CHICAGO — In a potentially seismic event in the Chicago sports market, the Blackhawks and TV analyst Eddie Olczyk appear to be parting ways.
Olczyk likely won’t return as a color commentator for Hawks games on NBC Sports Chicago, the Tribune confirmed. The Athletic first reported the expected split Monday.
According to The Athletic, “negotiations stalled” before the Hawks could officially renew Olczyk’s contract, which expired June 30.
Olczyk could not be reached for comment.
A Hawks source said the team believed it had given the former Hawks forward an “above-market offer” on a multiyear contract extension that “significantly” increased his salary per game.
Team officials thought they had reached a verbal agreement weeks ago and were awaiting Olczyk’s signature, the source said, and they were “blindsided” by Monday’s development.
Under his old contract, Olczyk was paid for a full 82-game schedule, though each year he would bow out of local games on occasion to work for TNT and other national hockey broadcasts as well as to handicap horse racing for NBC.
The new wrinkle was the Hawks wanted to switch to a per-game rate, though they sweetened the offer for each game. According to the team source, “Eddie still would have been one of the highest-paid broadcasters across the league.”
The Hawks hadn’t been calling possible replacements for Olczyk, the source said, but exploring fill-ins for those occasions when he would be assigned to national broadcasts.
Olczyk has been the Hawks color commentator since the 2006-07 season, when he was paired with Dan Kelly.
But it was the combination of Olczyk and Pat Foley, who joined him in 2008, that became synonymous with Hawks broadcasts.
Foley stepped away from his play-by-play duties after last season’s farewell tour. Despite speculation that he was pushed out, both Foley and the Hawks said his exit was amicable.
Chris Vosters was named Foley’s successor and will need a new partner if Olczyk doesn’t return next season.
