ESPN personalities are not seeing eye-to-eye on the popularity of the NHL. Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Linda Cohn, others blast Max Kellerman for saying 'no one really cares about hockey'

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 6/5/20

During a segment of ESPN's morning program "First Take" this week, analyst Max Kellerman addressed the return of professional sports in the United States amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Yikes. “nobody really cares about hockey... it’s not one of the 4 major team sports” pic.twitter.com/5rD89ebx8D
— NHL News (@puck_report2) June 3, 2020

"Listen, I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings," Kellerman said while speaking with Stephen A. Smith. "In the United States of America, no one really cares about hockey.

"The old joke is, every town has 20,000 hockey fans. They all have season tickets. So the arenas are always sold out, but the TV ratings don’t do anything. So, it's not one of the four major team sports.”

Fellow ESPN personality Linda Cohn, who hosts the ESPN+ "In the Crease" program, lashed out at Kellerman via Twitter.

What do you mean “Nobody cares about hockey”. Very disappointed and surprised you would make a statement like this @maxkellerman. It’s insulting to this great game, those associated with it ,cover it, and to the passionate fan base here in the United States. #NHL https://t.co/mMWYgRj75v
— Linda Cohn (@lindacohn) June 4, 2020

"What do you mean 'Nobody cares about hockey,'" Cohn wrote. " It’s insulting to this great game, those associated with it, cover it, and to the passionate fan base here in the United States."

Hockey fans backed Cohn online.

If nobody really cares about hockey then explain how a hockey game filled Cotton Bowl Stadium for a game between teams from Nashville and Dallas.. guess I’m missing something. pic.twitter.com/c62UedNbQF
— Jason Cefus (@Cefus4) June 3, 2020

Not to mention that there's only really 1 nationwide network to promote hockey(NBC). Football has 4. Baseball has 2-3. He's basically an enabler of the lack of coverage for hockey
— Brandon Gaines (@BrandonGaines91) June 3, 2020

I wonder which Kellerman thinks the 4th sport is ahead of hockey.

Soccer? Lacrosse? Volleyball?
— Stat Boy Steven (@StatBoy_Steven) June 3, 2020

Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux also responded to Kellerman.

I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but settle down Max @maxkellerman https://t.co/re5G7lgl0x
— Claude Giroux (@28CGiroux) June 5, 2020

The NHL and NHL Players' Association have agreed to a 24-team model and an altered postseason format to crown a Stanley Cup champion for the season shortened because of the pandemic. Players could return to the ice by the end of July.

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