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The Los Angeles Kings are turning to a familiar hockey voice to lead their broadcasts. The team has named longtime NHL play-by-play announcer John Kelly as the team’s new lead broadcaster on FanDuel Sports Network. Kelly will be joined on most telecasts this season by analyst Jim Fox, the Kings and network announced Thursday.
Fox returns as the lead analyst. A role he’s held for more than 40 years after spending parts of 10 seasons with the Kings as a player. The network also plans to feature former Kings Tony Granato, Ray Ferraro and Jarret Stoll as analysts on select games. Giving the booth a mix of voices with both Los Angeles and national ties.
Kelly steps into the role following the retirement of Hall of Famer Nick Nickson. Nickson had been a fixture on Kings broadcasts for decades. The 65-year-old Kelly, son of legendary broadcaster Dan Kelly, has called NHL games since 1989. This includes stints with the St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche. Josh Schaefer will also return to handle play-by-play duties for a limited number of games.
The upcoming season marks FanDuel Sports Network’s 40th as the local television home of the Kings. The network will televise and stream 68 regular season games in 2025-26 along with two preseason matchups. In addition, eight games will air on KCAL-TV (Channel 9), beginning November 1 against the New Jersey Devils.
Alongside the in-game broadcast, Patrick O’Neal and Carrlyn Bathe return to host LA Kings Live, with Bathe also serving as a rink side reporter. Former Kings winger Daryl Evans and Blake Bolden, a former pro and Kings scout, will contribute as analysts for pregame, postgame and intermission coverage. Stoll will also appear on the show when not in the booth.
FanDuel Sports Network plans to add a layer of statistical insight this season with Mike Kelly of Sportlogiq serving as a contributor, offering advanced analytics and breakdowns during select broadcasts.
“Our goal is to elevate our broadcasts and bring our viewers closer to the action than ever before,” said Jay Rothman, FanDuel Sports Network Vice President of Production. “We’re excited to bring together such a deep roster of expert voices to deliver a fresh perspective each night the Kings take the ice.”
Kings President Luc Robitaille echoed that sentiment, saying, “The LA Kings have always taken great pride in serving our fans with the best team of broadcasters in our sport. This crew will certainly deliver the level of quality our fans have come to expect each season.”
FanDuel Sports Network begins its coverage with the Kings’ final two preseason games: October 2 against the Utah Mammoth and October 4 versus the Anaheim Ducks. Regular season coverage opens October 11 when Los Angeles visits the Winnipeg Jets.
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