Elliotte Friedman shies away from addressing co-host's ouster from 32 Thoughts podcast

For years, Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek co-hosted the 32 Thoughts podcast together for Sportsnet. The hit show consistently delivered a slew of NHL news and spirited debates, bringing hockey fans entertainment week after week.

Despite that, earlier this summer, Marek suddenly departed from the show and Sportsnet, leaving fans wondering what had happened.

This week, after Marek was replaced by fellow Sportsnet reporter Kyle Bukauskas, Elliotte Friedman took some time to respond to fans calling for an explanation for Marek's departure. While rumors have continued to swirl regarding the situation, Friedman declined to go into detail.

With that, fans have been left to speculate and wonder as to what went down, given that Marek has been absent from social media for over a month now. While Friedman still follows his former co-host on X, he had no interest in discussing the situation on 32 Thoughts.

As he explained this week:

"I know there have been people out there who've been saying I should address this, talk about what happened, give my feelings. And someday, probably when I write a book, I will. But I know that if this happened to me, I wouldn't want any of my friends to say anything until I had a chance to do it.

"So my belief has always been—aside from the one post on X—that it's Jeff Marek's story to speak about first, and that's where I'm gonna leave it. When Jeff talks someday, after that, I will talk."

Looking at the rumors regarding Jeff Marek's departure from 32 Thoughts podcast with Elliotte Friedman

In late July, Jeff Marek took to social media, thanking fans for the outpouring of support after news surfaced indicating that he had parted ways with Sportsnet. At the time, it was clear that Marek would no longer be a part of Sportsnet, or the 32 Thoughts podcast with Elliotte Friedman.

The statement was confirmation of what fans already knew, however, the question has always been: Why?

Marek had long been a staple of the hit podcast, as well as Sportsnet. However, after the 2024 NHL Draft, it didn't take long for fans to realize that something was afoot.

Marek was notably absent from the post-draft episode of 32 Thoughts, with Elliotte Friedman conducting the show on his own. He then wound up missing two episodes of a daily radio show he hosted for Sportsnet, both of which were red flags for fans.

According to a report from The Athletic, after the draft, it was discovered that Marek had been sharing draft picks with a friend moments before they took place.

As a result, he was reportedly under investigation by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. However, the agency policy is that they don't comment on investigations or potential investigations.

While nothing has been confirmed, the report remains the primary rumor regarding Marek's split from Sportsnet and the 32 Thoughts podcast. With Friedman keeping quiet on the matter, it appears as though fans will likely have to wait longer for further news.