Sam Rosen returned to the broadcast booth Wednesday night for the New York Rangers’ matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers in a moment that was both nostalgic and new. Celebrated as the voice of the Rangers for over four decades on MSG Network, Rosen is set to retire at the end of the season. For this game, however, he joined a national broadcast on TNT alongside his longtime former partner John Davidson, who called Rangers games with Rosen for 19 years before transitioning to a hockey executive role in 2006.
Ahead of the puck drop, the “NHL on TNT” crew spoke with the reunited duo, and Hall of Fame goaltender Henrik Lundqvist delivered a heartfelt message to Rosen.
“It truly was a privilege to be around you throughout my entire career,” Lundqvist said. “Seeing you on team flights, before morning skates, having conversations about hockey and life—it was always a pleasure. You were the ultimate professional.”
He then asked Rosen what he’ll miss most after four decades in the game.
Rosen, who has been recognized all season long by players, fans, and organizations alike, responded with heartfelt reflection.
“There’s so much I’ll miss, Hank,” Rosen said. “But I think what I’ll miss most are the players and the bonds we formed. Like you said, being in the locker room, getting to know young guys coming into the league—everyone has such a unique story.”
After over 40 years of covering games from the Garden ice, Rosen admitted it will be hard to step away from the nightly action.
“I’ll miss the game itself. Every single night, I looked forward to the puck drop. No matter how the season went, I always anticipated the next game. Watching the best players in the world play right in front of me—it’s something I’ll never forget.”
Leave a Reply