Shout out to Bill Spaulding aka Big Bill aka Wild Bill aka Chill Bill for taking over the play by play reigns from Cangi and doing a great job in his first season. Some great calls and some meme-worthy quotes along the way. No doubt he’s gonna keep getting better each season.
I’ve also really grown to enjoy the dynamic he’s built with Dano as they provide different perspectives between stats heavy analysis and eye-test analysis.
And, finally, thank you to you, the fans for watching, for interacting online, and for those who've said hello at the Rock. Coming in, I was nervous. Following Doc and Cangi was intimidating, but from the start, you've welcomed me to this wild family and I'm so grateful for that.
— Bill Spaulding (@BillSpaulding) April 13, 2023
by xxfatpigxx
31 Comments
Aw this is so sweet. Love to see it. Bill is awesome and him and Dano have great chemistry. Always love when we have “an absolute slutfest”!
God I’ve grown to love Bill a lot, such great chemistry with Dano off the bat.
Bill has been great! Watch ESPN and realize how bad it could have been. Not going to pick on any one announcer personally but imagine some of the huge moments throughout this season being overshadowed by horrific announcing. Bill is super steady and, like Cangi, will only get better and more comfortable with time.
Really like bill, awkward nerd that he is. He seems like a good dude and got better as the year went on.
Hoping we can get him in here for an AMA
He’s been great so far. People forget that Cangi took some time to really get comfortable on the mic, and Bill likely will get better as time goes on. His only real knock is how he repeats the same words and phrases constantly, but I’ve grown to appreciate that as what makes him who he is.
Bill has been great. I also love that he’s added in a social media element and is very active
He grew on me pretty quickly. Also helps when we’re winning and the background complaints fall to the wayside. He just needed time to adjust and get comfy.
Looking forward to some playoff bill.
Bill has been an absolute slut-fest this year. We’ve been so lucky to have a string of great play by play guys, and Bill is no exception.
My one hope that he gets better with is interrupting dano when he’s just babbling about nonsense when the game is going on. Cangi was much better at preventing that. Same with doc w chico. I’m hoping as he gains confidence w the role that he will start to do that more next year.
He’s a great play by play guy. I will honestly say I loved Cangi but I almost completely forgot we changed announcers until midway through the season — which says a lot about Spaulding’s ability!
Here’s to many more uncorkings to come
Getting rid of cangelosi was one of the best things that happened to this franchise. That islanders fan needed to go
Started off slow but he’s come into the role brilliantly.
#SLUTFEST
Bill has been amazing this year. I’m super thankful we got him!!
Bill ok, but i still miss Cangiman.
Turn and burn!!!
Man…Doc, Cangi and now Bill. Why my team has been so blessed with amazing play by play for decades I’ll never know. But I’m extremely grateful. Even the radio staff with Matty and Chico are great. It’s been one of the few things pulling me through the dark ages. I feel bad that as soon as Cangi left we got a juggernaut of a season, but Bill is a very worthy successor. I hope he stays a long, long time.
Bill is such a goofy sassy bastard I love him.
He’s annoying and his voice is annoying. Not a fan.
I was thinking recently how awesome Bill has been and we should have an appreciation thread then I forgot and saw this. He is the perfect contrast for Dano.
“I don’t know what to do with my hands” -Ricky Bobby
As much as I loved Cangi’s calls (and still do!), even Steve did not gift the world with….
***Slut-Fest.***
Yeah, I’m really digging Bill now.
I thought he did a good job this year. Not that I know shit about broadcasting but I would advise him to not constantly try to contextualize everything. If he has a tick it’s that he is always bringing up stats, how many shots in a period, where this would put the team in the standings, where Hughes points compare to Kakko, etc. I am not explaining it well, and I understand some of this context is helpful for your average fan but it’s overdone in my opinion. And maybe that’s the production team telling him to do it I don’t know.
For me a great broadcaster really just needs to set the scene, keep you on the tracks with basic info like who has the puck, who is on the ice, and then match the energy of the game. Constantly trying to wedge in every last statistic gets tedious if you are watching night to night.
Two examples that come to mind were the Mercer point streak and then Hughes the other night with the points record. I get both are big stories for the team, and absolutely you need to mention them during the game. You do not need to mention that context every single shift or every time the guy touches the puck. It’s too much.
But overall good job and a good addition.
Very kind of the Minnesota fans to welcome him too
The most consistent thing about this franchise continues to be up in the play-by-play booth. Not goaltending, not defense, but broadcasting is this team’s greatest strength.
A tough gig coming in after Cangi but he’s been really good. Him and Dano have great chemistry and as others mentioned, I think bill will get even better as time goes on
I think the devils are super blessed to have a good commentating crew. Other broadcasts I tune into usually aren’t at the same caliber.
I’ve really enjoyed him. Good voice, keeps up with the energy, doesn’t seem too homer-y.
He also has a great memory/very prepared with interesting little stats/anecdotes all throughout the game.
Can see bill being here as long as he pleases. He’s great.
He’s doing a great job.