ST. LOUIS — Longtime St. Louis Blues TV broadcaster John Kelly will not return next season, the team and its broadcast partners FanDuel Sports Network and 101 ESPN announced Thursday night.

The decision to part ways with veteran television broadcaster was “a joint” one between the St. Louis Blues and FanDuel Sports Network, the team’s business CEO Chris Zimmerman said Friday.

“Our broadcasters have always been employees of the regional network,” Zimmerman said. “The decision is a joint decision.”

The organization has decided to simulcast its games starting with the 2025-26 season, using longtime radio play-by-play man Chris Kerber and analyst Joey Vitale as its voices for both television and radio.

“Ultimately, along with FanDuel, we’re charging ourselves with creating the most engaging, entertaining, as well as informative, product as we can,” Zimmerman said. “We think Kerbs, his talents are unquestioned. We believe that we’ve got one of the best in the business, and between the two of them, they have a chemistry, a commitment to the game, a commitment to learning, a commitment to our brand that is going to give us a dynamic, fresh broadcast.”

Chris Kerber and Joey Vitale will simulcast games on @FanDuelSN_MW and @101espn; John Kelly departs amid strategic realignment and expanded pre and postgame coverage. #stlblues

DETAILS ➡️ https://t.co/yzbuBsWz7u https://t.co/yzbuBsWz7u

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) July 10, 2025

The announcement Thursday that Kelly would no longer be on the broadcast after 21 seasons with the Blues — following in the footsteps of his father Dan Kelly, a broadcasting legend who brought the family to St. Louis from Ottawa in 1968 — was a shock.

In a statement posted on X Friday, Kelly thanked St. Louis.

“Broadcasting and hockey are far more than a career to me. They are a passion. My journey is not over, and I’m looking ahead with excitement about what’s next.

Thank you, St. Louis. pic.twitter.com/Y4qteWG5u3

— John Kelly (@Jkellyhockey) July 11, 2025

This story will be updated.

(Photo: Mark Buckner / NHLI via Getty Images)