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Originally Posted by Ronin

Did anyone else hear David Pratt is leaving TEAM1040? Pratt and Taylor is the only reason to listen apart from Canucks games.

NHL camps are opening across the continent soon, and all eyes are on Vancouver, where the Canucks are welcoming back members of a team that went to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. One notable figure in the Vancouver hockey scene was supposed to return on Tuesday, too, but when the TEAM 1040’s afternoon drive show started, host David Pratt was nowhere to be heard.

As the popular program began, Jeff Patterson sat in for Pratt. There were no audio stings identifying the highly rated Pratt & (Don) Taylor duo, who were due to kick off a new season Tuesday. Staff at the radio station had already been told that Pratt and the station are in a contractual impasse, but nothing was to be discussed publicly. Pratt, who’s been a Vancouver radio figure during almost three decades, feels he’s in the same league as the lucrative contracts handed out by CHUM to Mike Richards at TSN Radio 1050 and by Rogers to Bob McCown of The Fan 590.

The station apparently feels otherwise. Pratt, once an original TSN host, has gone to the mattress successfully in the past over his contract. But insiders suggest this time might be different with new managers in place. Despite the powerful ratings for the show during the Canucks’ spring run, radio observers believe that if Pratt has any leverage, he may have to use it soon.

James Stuart, general manager of the Team 1040, tells Usual Suspects, “At this point, I have no public comment to make on the situation.” David Pratt has not returned requests for comment.

Update on Team 1040: Ray Ferraro, who co-hosted the station’s morning drive show with Scott Rintoul, is taking a reduced load as he steps into Pierre McGuire’s role at TSN on a three-year contract. Ferraro will do a half-hour show daily with Team 1040, plus appearances on the other CHUM sports stations in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Winnipeg. In addition to his NHL role, Ferraro also steps into McGuire’s role at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Alberta over the Christmas/New Year’s holiday.

Five ways TSN Radio can become more distinctive - The Globe and Mail