Pierre McGuire was in peak awkward form broadcasting with Kendall Coyne Schofield

Kyle Cantlon
·Writer
(Twitter/HockeyDaily365)
(Twitter/HockeyDaily365)

After making history in becoming the first woman to ever compete in the NHL All-Star Skills Competition last weekend, Kendall Coyne Schofield made her broadcasting debut and earned herself another rite of passage in the process.

I’m of course referring to being awkwardly bombarded by Pierre McGuire on national television.

Working as an NBC guest analyst for Wednesday night’s Lightning-Penguins clash, Coyne Schofield had the sheer pleasure of sharing the rink-side reporting quarters with the GOAT of broadcast awkwardness himself. Pierre was even gracious enough to welcome the Olympic gold medalist by letting her know which benches each team would be on.

If one dose of awkward bombardment wasn’t enough, don’t you worry, because McGuire brought the real heat just seconds later.

“What are you expecting out of this game?” McGuire said to the five-time IIHF world champion.

“We’re paying you to be an analyst, not a fan tonight!” he proclaimed to the person who clocked in less than a second slower than Connor McDavid during the Fastest Skater comp less than a week ago.

Coyne Shofield can certainly take solace in the fact that she’s joining another Olympic gold medalist and a fellow American hockey star in the “have a special rink-side moment spoiled by Pierre McGuire” club, as Blackhawks centre Jonathan Toews and Penguins star Phil Kessel have both recently been virally victimized by the analyst’s wrath.

Lest we forgot this incredible exchange between McGuire and Kessel during the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Or this spectacular one between Pierre and Toews mere weeks ago.

As for Coyne’s actual NHL broadcast debut — the part not soiled by this dude — she was fantastic.

Her analysis was on point and thoughtful and the way she handled herself after Pierre came out throwing zingers should alone be enough to earn her an Emmy or a Foster Hewitt Memorial Award or something.

Or just give her another gold medal, she’s more than earned it tonight.

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