“I grew up in New York. I grew up in Brooklyn… Grew up as a Rangers fan,” said 77-year-old Sam Rosen. The lifelong Rangers fan got to live his dream in a way few can ever imagine, becoming the voice of New York’s NHL team on broadcast television. Now, after 40 years of serving the fans, the play-by-play announcer who’s conveyed the joy of and tragedy on the ice is about to retire.

“We’re closing in on ten games left with Sam Rosen as the voice of the New York Rangers,” NYR community member Snark Messier wrote on X. Needless to say, it’s getting emotional, especially for the veteran fans of the team who has grown up listing to Rosen, as his retirement date looms near. Unfortunately, some are expressing the anger they’re feeling.

Yet their anger is not directed toward the beloved announcer but toward the New York Rangers roster. “I will never ever forgive this group of players for this,” a fan commented on Messier’s post. So, what have the Rangers done (or not) that warrants forgiveness? Well, for starters, the team from New York is having one of its worst seasons in recent memory.

What’s worse? The Rangers have shown little effort as their playoff chances slip further and further away. After not living up to expectations for most of the season, the Rangers roster earned their fan base’s faith, turning things around in January. Despite a few more hiccups, the Ranger cut it close during a crucial game with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The March 16 clash would decide which team earned the wild card position. Thankfully, the Rangers showed considerable grit, decisively winning the game 4-0. Yet, since then, Sam Rosen has had to announce the play-by-play of three painful back-to-back defeats. Their second defeat once again saw the Rangers slip out of wild card contention. And things are only getting worse.

Fans don’t want Sam Rosen’s career to end on a sour note

One fan simply commented that a beloved figure like Rosen “deserves better,” than to go out on the back of such a disappointing season. While the Rangers have missed the playoffs as recently as 2021, these last few years have been good. In fact, many thought the team would be among the top Stanley Cup contenders after making it to the conference finals last year.

Unfortunately, the current roster has failed to live up to their reputation throughout the season. While there have been sparks of brilliance, the consistency is missing. “Wish he left last year,” commented one fan, suggesting how Sam Rosen leaving after the team lost in the conference finals last year would’ve been better than watching the team squander their chances of making the playoffs.

Meanwhile, others proposed the opposite. “Hey Sam Rosen, one more season, please. You don’t deserve this mess,” commented another hockey fan, urging the legendary announcer to stay. The general lack of faith in the team also developed because players have failed to live up to their own words. Take Braden Schneider’s statement after their listless loss to Calgary yesterday.

“We want to make sure we come back with a game that we’re proud of, that we’re working hard in and that we ultimately come out with a win,” Schneider told reporters after the loss. While the squad showed more determination against the Maple Leafs tonight, it wasn’t enough. The Leafs handed the NHL team their third consecutive loss, beating the team 4-3.

As their playoff dream slowly turns into a pipe dream, it’s no wonder fans hope Rosen would extend his tenure. “Sam Rosen should pull a ‘jk’ and try again next year – completely unacceptable that he goes out like this,” commented another fan. Yet, despite the Rangers hitting a rough patch in his last season as an announcer, the 77-year-old is looking back with fondness.

“To do this for as long as I have is unbelievable. You don’t keep count while you’re doing it but when you reach this point you can look back and say, ‘Hey, this has been a pretty good run.'” the announcer said about his career. Although, the players are struggling on the ice, even they are appreciative of the legendary broadcast icon.

Jonathan Quick, Matt Rempe, Braden Schneider, and Mika Zibanejad all gave heartfelt tributes to Sam Rosen. “Sam, I just want to congratulate you on your 40th and final year. It’s been incredible for me as a player… Best of luck in retirement,” said Zibanejad. Meanwhile, Quick put the length of Rosen’s career into perspective.

“Remember listening to you as a kid, watching all the Ranger games and been an honor,” added Quick. So what are your thoughts on Rosen retiring at a moment when the Rangers are in dire straits? Write your views in the comments.