He is better than RJ by a long shot, RJ described the game as if you were able to watch it on TV. I was an audio only participant and would track of the game because RJ had too many lapses in describing the on ice action. Dunleavy describes the game so much better.
USBIues
Idk he’s fine to me
26007
Used to not be a fan of him because I preferred RJ, but looked at other local announcers and the national ones on TNT and ESPN, I’d much prefer Dunleavy over any of them. No, he’s not RJ, never will be, but he’s himself and that’s better that homers that go on tangents that no one can follow (Bruins guy) or national announcers that have no info about either team except for a 5×7 index card that lists a few players and facts. Dunleavy is our guy now, and I’m more than happy with that.
the_missing_worker
Compared to anything they have going on over at TNT the man is a national treasure.
PrinciplesRK
I’m not a huge fan of Dunleavy and Rayzor as a pair. Dunleavy is sort of a geek (not in a bad way, I’m a geek too) and his banter with Ray can be super awkward. RJ was a lot better at firing shots back at Ray.
GoGlenMoCo
I’m with you. Dunleavy doesn’t impress me at all. I watch most games muted until they get to the intermission (Biron is a treasure).
E: Does Dunleavy’s mom have like 12 alt accounts here or are you guys actually that sensitive about anyone having a different opinion than you?
barffolemeow
I personally really enjoy Dunleavy, especially along with Razor. They’ve got great chemistry imo
carl-swagan
He’s a little stiff, but I like him. I do think it would be fun if we had someone a little more quick witted to banter with Rayzor.
MYO716
He’s perfectly okay. Unfortunately he’s replacing a legend and that’s gonna be a huge hill to climb no matter what.
Minuarvea1
I have no issues with him. He just has the unfortunate situation of being constantly compared to the absolute greatest that has ever done it.
qeq
You probably don’t like him because he’s the voice of Sabres futility to this point
nick1158
I love Dunleavy. I HATE Ray. Can’t stand him. Like at all. I think he is awful.
TheSquidFarmer
Dunleavy is pretty good. When so many other announcers talk in great detail about player histories, college days, or something the coach did *while the game is live and actually being played*, Dan actually calls the game.
mykisscool
Dunleavy is great. I love how he will mention a players junior team if given the chance – I know the older (Canadian) viewers love little tidbits like that. He’s just knowledgeable overall.
Unlike Razor – who’s a likable guy – but offers little to no perspective on what’s going on aside from the obvious. “Yeah that’s a penalty you can’t do that” and “Sabres need to take more shots if they want to score” is getting old.
ZestycloseTension747
He’s awful. He’s from The Fan 590 in Toronto. I couldn’t believe it when they used him.
okarrah
I feel like we’re all spoiled by RJ, but I love Duffer and his enthusiasm, and wish he could be on air. He, Marty, Rayzor would be ideal. Dunleavy is alright at best but I’ll take him over what other teams have where its just so dry and bred as a radio/tv personality with no real heart like RJ had. That said, it could be worse, we could hear DRIIIIIVE ! all the time…and I’d quit watching Sabres if we had something like that. wow
CrunchMan94
He’s okay but seems much more of a studio host and fill-in play-by-play guy rather than the every night one. At least to me.
Could definitely do a lot worse, and we were all spoiled with years of RJ to compare him against.
ghl37
He’s good. I like him a lot.
LaruePDX
I mean, hard to follow RJ. I think the issue I have is he and Razor are awkward together.
edwinsagain
Dunleavy is great at it. This might be the worst Sabres take on this subreddit.. and that’s saying ALOT.
Several_Moose6518
I always listen to the away broadcasts. I just don’t like him. I don’t want to bag on the guy it’s just my preference.
splendid_ssbm
I love Dan. He’s eloquent and professional and a great foil to Rayzor’s rayzorisms. If Dan was more loosey-goosey, then Ray would have to stiffen up to compensate, which is when he’s at his least good imo
Buff716917
Honestly like Dunleavy more than Razor for actual game commentary
PaganNinja
Not the best. Not the worst. He does a decent job. Professional.
RealJembaJemba
Obviously nobody comes close to RJ, but Dans pretty good. Look around the league, I think he’s one of the better ones. Especially love it when him and Rayzor crack some jokes.
highfalutinspork
It could be better it could be worse. Comparing him to RJ is unfair.
count_dressula
He’s a very good announcer and I think will be a great announcer once he has a successful team to call. I bet him calling Sabres playoffs one day makes everyone love him.
Also he’s a wonderful guy in person.
spk6361
The Sabres curse started once Jim Lorentz stopped as the color commenter
dunchtime
With all the crap we’ve seen unfold this year, this is what you’re complaining about? Cmonnn.
SeriouslyImKidding
I think the first bit after he fully replaced RJ him and razor were not exactly vibing and missed the mark on some banter. But last year they found their rhythm and I’ve really enjoyed his passion and chemistry with razor. Nobody will replace RJ, but dunleavy is great, better than most. Having espn+ and listening to other teams’ announcers makes that crystal clear.
JoesShittyOs
I think he’s great and one of the better announcers in the league.
HoweyHero
Agreed the games just don’t feel the same as when RJ or Doc Emrick called the games
doctormirdock
He’s better than having granato as a coach, Adams as a GM, and Terry as an owner
garretw41
I’ve said this before.
We’ve been spoiled listening to RJ for our entire lives until recently, and there’s obviously no replacing him.
Dunleavy seems like he’s on a 2 second delay behind the play sometimes, and I really dislike how he seems to try and make those “classic” calls. “Dahl-icious” is the first that comes to mind, but it feels forced.
The exact same reason why I can’t stand Chris Brown calling the Bills games.
Musician-Quick
I think he’s a great guy. He’s a class act and represents the organization well.
In terms of play-by-play, I don’t think he does a great job for the radio broadcasts. He doesn’t follow the play and often goes 5-10 seconds without describing what is happening on the ice. It leaves the listener with a choppy experience.
immutable_truth
Dunleavy is not great and if you watch other hockey teams you realize it’s not just due to trying to fill RJ’s shoes. I would take most team’s commentators over DD
36 Comments
He is better than RJ by a long shot, RJ described the game as if you were able to watch it on TV. I was an audio only participant and would track of the game because RJ had too many lapses in describing the on ice action. Dunleavy describes the game so much better.
Idk he’s fine to me
Used to not be a fan of him because I preferred RJ, but looked at other local announcers and the national ones on TNT and ESPN, I’d much prefer Dunleavy over any of them. No, he’s not RJ, never will be, but he’s himself and that’s better that homers that go on tangents that no one can follow (Bruins guy) or national announcers that have no info about either team except for a 5×7 index card that lists a few players and facts. Dunleavy is our guy now, and I’m more than happy with that.
Compared to anything they have going on over at TNT the man is a national treasure.
I’m not a huge fan of Dunleavy and Rayzor as a pair. Dunleavy is sort of a geek (not in a bad way, I’m a geek too) and his banter with Ray can be super awkward. RJ was a lot better at firing shots back at Ray.
I’m with you. Dunleavy doesn’t impress me at all. I watch most games muted until they get to the intermission (Biron is a treasure).
E: Does Dunleavy’s mom have like 12 alt accounts here or are you guys actually that sensitive about anyone having a different opinion than you?
I personally really enjoy Dunleavy, especially along with Razor. They’ve got great chemistry imo
He’s a little stiff, but I like him. I do think it would be fun if we had someone a little more quick witted to banter with Rayzor.
He’s perfectly okay. Unfortunately he’s replacing a legend and that’s gonna be a huge hill to climb no matter what.
I have no issues with him. He just has the unfortunate situation of being constantly compared to the absolute greatest that has ever done it.
You probably don’t like him because he’s the voice of Sabres futility to this point
I love Dunleavy. I HATE Ray. Can’t stand him. Like at all. I think he is awful.
Dunleavy is pretty good. When so many other announcers talk in great detail about player histories, college days, or something the coach did *while the game is live and actually being played*, Dan actually calls the game.
Dunleavy is great. I love how he will mention a players junior team if given the chance – I know the older (Canadian) viewers love little tidbits like that. He’s just knowledgeable overall.
Unlike Razor – who’s a likable guy – but offers little to no perspective on what’s going on aside from the obvious. “Yeah that’s a penalty you can’t do that” and “Sabres need to take more shots if they want to score” is getting old.
He’s awful. He’s from The Fan 590 in Toronto. I couldn’t believe it when they used him.
I feel like we’re all spoiled by RJ, but I love Duffer and his enthusiasm, and wish he could be on air. He, Marty, Rayzor would be ideal. Dunleavy is alright at best but I’ll take him over what other teams have where its just so dry and bred as a radio/tv personality with no real heart like RJ had.
That said, it could be worse, we could hear DRIIIIIVE ! all the time…and I’d quit watching Sabres if we had something like that. wow
He’s okay but seems much more of a studio host and fill-in play-by-play guy rather than the every night one. At least to me.
Could definitely do a lot worse, and we were all spoiled with years of RJ to compare him against.
He’s good. I like him a lot.
I mean, hard to follow RJ. I think the issue I have is he and Razor are awkward together.
Dunleavy is great at it. This might be the worst Sabres take on this subreddit.. and that’s saying ALOT.
I always listen to the away broadcasts. I just don’t like him. I don’t want to bag on the guy it’s just my preference.
I love Dan. He’s eloquent and professional and a great foil to Rayzor’s rayzorisms. If Dan was more loosey-goosey, then Ray would have to stiffen up to compensate, which is when he’s at his least good imo
Honestly like Dunleavy more than Razor for actual game commentary
Not the best. Not the worst. He does a decent job. Professional.
Obviously nobody comes close to RJ, but Dans pretty good. Look around the league, I think he’s one of the better ones. Especially love it when him and Rayzor crack some jokes.
It could be better it could be worse. Comparing him to RJ is unfair.
He’s a very good announcer and I think will be a great announcer once he has a successful team to call. I bet him calling Sabres playoffs one day makes everyone love him.
Also he’s a wonderful guy in person.
The Sabres curse started once Jim Lorentz stopped as the color commenter
With all the crap we’ve seen unfold this year, this is what you’re complaining about? Cmonnn.
I think the first bit after he fully replaced RJ him and razor were not exactly vibing and missed the mark on some banter. But last year they found their rhythm and I’ve really enjoyed his passion and chemistry with razor. Nobody will replace RJ, but dunleavy is great, better than most. Having espn+ and listening to other teams’ announcers makes that crystal clear.
I think he’s great and one of the better announcers in the league.
Agreed the games just don’t feel the same as when RJ or Doc Emrick called the games
He’s better than having granato as a coach, Adams as a GM, and Terry as an owner
I’ve said this before.
We’ve been spoiled listening to RJ for our entire lives until recently, and there’s obviously no replacing him.
Dunleavy seems like he’s on a 2 second delay behind the play sometimes, and I really dislike how he seems to try and make those “classic” calls. “Dahl-icious” is the first that comes to mind, but it feels forced.
The exact same reason why I can’t stand Chris Brown calling the Bills games.
I think he’s a great guy. He’s a class act and represents the organization well.
In terms of play-by-play, I don’t think he does a great job for the radio broadcasts. He doesn’t follow the play and often goes 5-10 seconds without describing what is happening on the ice. It leaves the listener with a choppy experience.
Dunleavy is not great and if you watch other hockey teams you realize it’s not just due to trying to fill RJ’s shoes. I would take most team’s commentators over DD