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Chris Therien out as NBC Sports Philadelphia shakes up its Flyers broadcast

"I'm disappointed about the upcoming season not going the way I thought it was going to go."

Former Flyers defenseman Chris Therien (right), seen here in the booth next to NHL on NBC.'s Darren Pang, won't return to his role on NBC Sports Philadelphia's Flyers broadcasts.
Former Flyers defenseman Chris Therien (right), seen here in the booth next to NHL on NBC.'s Darren Pang, won't return to his role on NBC Sports Philadelphia's Flyers broadcasts.Read moreChris Therien
    by Rob Tornoe
    Updated 
    Published 

Chris Therien, a former Flyers defenseman affectionately known as "Bundy," won't return as the rinkside analyst on NBC Sports Philadelphia this season.

Therien, who has been the network's inside-the-glass reporter since 2014, announced on Facebook Saturday that he was "disappointed" he won't be part of NBC Sports Philadelphia's Flyers coverage this season.

"I will not be back between the benches this year. That was a decision I found out about last week," Therien announced in a video posted to Facebook and Instagram that has since been deleted. "I'm disappointed about the upcoming season not going the way I thought it was going to go."

NBC Sports Philadelphia confirmed to the Inquirer and Daily News that Therien won't be part of Flyers broadcasts this season. It's unclear if the network will fill the role with another analyst, though it would be unusual to have an NHL broadcast without an inside-the-glass reporter. Play-by-play announcer Jim Jackson and alternating color analysts Bill Clement and Keith Jones will return to call Flyers games this season.

Details remain up in the air about Therien's future role with NBC Sports Philadelphia and whether he'll be part of the network's pre- and post-game Flyers coverage. Therien did not respond to a request for comment.

The former Flyers defenseman was first hired by then-Comcast SportsNet back in 2014 after spending six years calling games on 97.5 The Fanatic. Therien replaced Steve Coates, who spent 16 seasons as the Flyers' color commentator and currently calls games on The Fanatic.

This is the second big change NBC Sports Philadelphia has made to their broadcast teams this off-season. Back in June, NBC Sports Philadelphia angered many fans by dismissing Sixers sideline reporter Molly Sullivan, a move described to her as part of the network's decision to streamline its Sixers coverage. Sullivan has since landed a new job with the Eagles.