– Advertisement –
ESPN is adding a Stanley Cup champion to its NHL coverage. The network announced that longtime Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie will join the company as a studio and game analyst beginning with the 2025-26 season.
The move comes just four months after Oshie officially retired following a 16-year NHL career. Known for his relentless style and clutch scoring ability, the 38-year-old enters the media world with instant credibility and name recognition.
Oshie spent last season on long-term injured reserve because of a chronic back issue that ultimately ended his playing days. It was the final year of an eight-year, $46 million deal he signed with Washington in 2017. While his health limited his late-career availability, his legacy on the ice was already cemented.
Over 1,010 regular-season games with the St. Louis Blues and Capitals, Oshie collected 695 points (302 goals, 393 assists). He also added 69 points in 106 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Highlighted by a 21-point run during Washington’s 2018 championship season. He scored at least 20 goals six times. Including a career-best 33 in 2016-17 when he tied Alex Ovechkin for the team lead.
The Everett, Washington, native first gained widespread attention during the 2014 Sochi Olympics when he scored four times in six shootout attempts to lift Team USA past Russia in a dramatic preliminary-round game. That moment made him a household name and set the stage for his status as one of the most popular players of his era.
Drafted by the Blues in the first round in 2005, Oshie spent seven seasons in St. Louis before being traded to Washington in 2015. The move paired him with Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom on the Capitals’ top line, where he quickly became a staple. In total, he produced 385 points across 567 games in Washington.
Despite his size—listed at 6-foot and 187 pounds—Oshie built a reputation as a fearless competitor. That style eventually took a toll, particularly with recurring back issues that limited him to fewer than 60 games in each of his final three seasons. Still, he managed to reach the milestone of 1,000 NHL games in March 2024, becoming just the 62nd U.S.-born player to achieve the feat.
Oshie’s playing career may have ended quietly with a first-round playoff exit to the New York Rangers last spring, but his transition into broadcasting signals a new chapter. For ESPN, the addition adds another recognizable face to its growing roster of hockey talent. For fans, it offers a chance to hear insights from a player who combined skill, grit, and championship pedigree.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
