Mike Milbury isn't covering the NHL on a national broadcast this year. That doesn't mean he isn't paying attention and doesn't have opinions to share. He was a guest Thursday on WWEI's The Greg Hill Show and had some sharp criticism for TNT's prized analyst hire.

"Can you make a comment about 'The Great One' and not be 100% positive?," Milbury said when Hill asked what he has thought of Wayne Gretzky's TV performance. "I needed a cup of coffee, to be honest with you."

While Gretzky is the best player in the history of the sport, plenty of fans have said his work as an analyst for TNT has left a lot to be desired. Something will have to give. Either Gretzky will have to grow, hockey fans will have to get used to it, or Turner will have to fork over a lot of cash. The company gave Gretzky a multi-year deal before the season began even though he had no experience as a broadcaster.

"I think Wayne is new to the job," Mike Milbury said. "He's gonna have to figure out you've got to bring some energy when you're on camera. You can't be monotone."

There is one person on the TNT NHL studio crew that Milbury likes. He thinks despite Wayne Gretzky being better on the ice, Paul Bissonnette has been much better on TV.

"He was kind of funny, brings it on his podcast, he's pretty good at that."

Bissonnette also did not have TV experience. He did get a lot of reps as the analyst on the Arizona Coyotes' radio broadcast and built up his own audience though as a member of Barstool's hockey podcast Spittin' Chiclets.