The New York hockey broadcasting world received big news on Tuesday when Rangers broadcaster Sam Rosen announced his retirement after the 2024-25 season.
Upon his departure after 40 years of broadcasting, he will leave an undeniable mark on New York hockey alongside New York Islanders Jiggs McDonald voice.
McDonald doesn’t have the longevity with the Islanders that Rosen has with the Rangers, spending 15 seasons as the club’s full-time voice. However, both voices deserve flowers for what they did on the microphone.
Over those 15 years, McDonald became synonymous with the Islanders’ dynasty. He was not at the microphone for the first of four Stanley Cup victories, but he was there for the last three championship victories, as well as the fifth consecutive Finals appearance in 1984.
Along the way, he was there for John Tonnelli’s heroics against the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1982, Ken Morrow’s overtime goal against the Rangers in 1984 and the team’s deep playoff run in 1993.
His playing career with the Islanders came to an end in 1996 when he decided to call games for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers, but the team reconnected with McDonald in 2006.
Over the next 10 years, he appeared whenever then-announcer Howie Rose was away or calling games for the New York Mets. Ultimately, he completed 50 years of broadcasting in 2017.
Even though 2017 seemed to be his final decision, he remained in the Islanders family and finally got two more chances to wear the headset. In 2022, he called the team’s games with the Seattle Kraken and Columbus Blue Jackets, the latter being a 6–0 victory where Anders Lee scored his first NHL hat trick.
Crossing the city, Rosen also left a similar mark on the Rangers. He remained with the team for 40 years.
Both also had moments working on national broadcasts or for other teams.
McDonald benched New Jersey Devils games in the 1980s along with his work in Toronto and Florida. Rosen has also worked at NHL Radio and Westwood One, where he was ironically present for Jordan Eberle’s double overtime goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Rosen will certainly receive his flowers throughout the season for what he did with the Rangers, but the Islanders will also have a chance to honor his voice in the dynasty.
Whether it’s the Islanders Hall of Fame or naming the team’s broadcast booth in his honor, it will certainly be worthy recognition.
As a result, while McDonald may not have the same longevity that Rosen does, he is an icon when it comes to New York Islanders.
As their Rangers counterpart approaches sunset, it will mark the end of an era for New York hockey broadcasts.
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