40 seasons later, and yeah—it’s finally time to wrap up the mic for a man whose voice basically lives in every Rangers fan’s memory. “The waiting is over! The New York Rangers are the Stanley Cup champions! And this one will last a lifetime!”—you don’t even have to say his name. You just know. That iconic June night back in ’94, Sam Rosen turned MSG into a church of chills, joy, and lifelong memories. But come August, the legend officially decided to pass the torch after four decades of legendary storytelling from the booth.

From catching pitches at Stuyvesant and CCNY to dishing play-by-play gold at MSG, Sam’s been the heartbeat with his headset on since ’82. He stepped into the spotlight full-time two years later and just never missed. Whether it was with JD for 20 epic seasons or vibing with Joe Micheletti for nearly 19, his “It’s a power-play goal” call from ’87-88 is etched in hockey heaven. The man wasn’t thrilled about missing the parade gig in ’94, but hey—he still owned the moment. And now, the Florida Panthers tip their hats to the legend himself, Sam Rosen, as a fresh voice steps up to carry the Rangers’ mic magic forward.

On April 14th, the Florida Panthers decided to sprinkle a little extra love on hockey history, hopping on X with a sweet shoutout for the broadcasting legend. They shared a snap of Sam Rosen—looking all classy and iconic—holding a custom bottle decked out with the Panthers logo, because, of course, legends deserve legendary gifts.

With hearts full and vibes high, the Panthers’ post read, “Congratulations from the #FlaPanthers organization to @NYRangers broadcaster Sam Rosen on a legendary career of over 40 years, calling his final regular season road game tonight!” What. A. Run.

Well, well, the mic’s got a new captain now—and it’s none other than Kenny Albert sliding into the booth with style and decades of Rangers’ rhythm in his voice! He’s been the Rangers’ steady voice on the radio since way back in ‘95, and now, he’s about to take over TV play-by-play like it’s second nature. And when he’s not available? Alex Faust might just tag in and keep that commentary energy flowing. Fans are already buzzing, and honestly, Albert couldn’t be more hyped to follow in the footsteps of his mentor and friend.

“He’s one of the greatest of all time,” Albert said of Rosen, with heartfelt respect in his voice. “I’ve been listening to Sam for 40 years now… since he started with the Rangers in ‘84, and have been really close with Sam. Since ‘95, when I started with the Rangers, we’ve sat next to each other on the team charter flights.” And while the Florida Panthers gave Sam Rosen his flowers earlier, the Rangers? Oh, you know they’ve got something cookin’ to send him off in pure MSG fashion.

Sam Rosen gets honored by the Rangers!

Back in March, with the NHL regular season winding down and playoff dreams heating up, the New York Rangers hit pause on the action for something a little more magical. Madison Square Garden turned into a sea of love for the legendary Sam Rosen. Before a big faceoff with the Canucks, fans packed the place, standing shoulder to shoulder as Rosen stepped onto the blue carpet with his wife Jill, and his broadcast fam—Joe Micheletti, John Davidson, and Phil Esposito—all by his side. When Sam walked up to the mic, the cheers? Oh, they roared. He had to literally step back just to soak it all in. A kid from Brooklyn standing tall at The World’s Most Famous Arena? As Rosen said, he’s “truly lived the dream.”

MSG made sure the night felt like a love letter to Rosen’s incredible career. From emotional tributes by players to throwback reels of his iconic calls (yes, that 1994 moment got its shine), the whole day felt like a warm hug from the hockey world. And Rosen? He poured his heart right back out: “To the wonderful people here at Madison Square Garden… every time I walk into this building, I know I’m walking into my second home because the people are the best in the world.” He even threw in a huge shoutout to the one who started it all: “Thanks to Joe Cohen, who hired me back in 1982, and I’m still here today and loving every minute of it.”

And because Sam Rosen is, well, Sam Rosen, he wrapped up his tribute, sat down, and called the Rangers’ 5–3 win over the Canucks like it was just another day at the office. But this night was anything but ordinary. He gave heartfelt thanks to everyone from Hall of Famer Sal “Red Light” Messina to his radio buddies, players, and fans who “stopped me and asked for a selfie or an autograph.” His words hit like a soft slapshot to the soul: “You are my inspiration to be the best I could be. Thank you, I love all of you.”