Rangers broadcasting legend Sam Rosen joins Neil Smith and Vic Morren for an emotional interview during his 40th and final season as Voice of the New York Rangers. From the iconic "No More Curses, this one will last a lifetime" Game 7 call in 1994 to surviving ownership changes at Madison Square Garden, the beer incident with Alan Cohen, wine collection from NHL coaches, league-wide sendoff overwhelming him, and Kenny Albert's natural succession. Hear about the 1980 OIHL with Neil, working with Phil Esposito and John Davidson, advice for aspiring broadcasters to express love of the game, Bruce Connal hiring him at ESPN, Rick Tocchet gambling story in Phoenix, why 1994 remains the greatest moment any broadcaster could have calling Game 7 at home arena, and the emotional reality of his final game Thursday against Tampa Bay. Born Samuel Rosenblum in Ulm, Germany, this is the story of 40 years at the World's Most Famous Arena.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Welcome: His Calls Will Last a Lifetime - Sam Rosen final season celebration

[01:00] - Broadcast legend brings down curtain Thursday: Rangers host Tampa at MSG

[02:00] - Engaging energetic gentleman off camera exactly same as on air

[03:00] - Three Things: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Montreal Canadians for final Eastern spot

[04:00] - Jet Greaves incredible run: 120 of 123 saves last four games, two shutouts

[05:00] - Adam Fantilli 30th goal: could be best player from that draft

[06:00] - Blue Jackets tragedy: Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Gaudreau, Sean Monahan joining

[07:00] - Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues capture wild card spots

[08:00] - Calgary Flames eliminated but Adam Huska deserves credit for job done

[09:00] - Ducks and Flames: reason for optimism in seasons coming ahead

[10:00] - Toronto Maple Leafs take Atlantic: Mitch Marner 100 points, Austin Matthews 400th

[11:00] - Craig Berube blueprint exactly what playoffs require

[12:00] - Seven of eight matchups set: Washington waiting for Columbus or Montreal

[13:00] - Sam Rosen interview begins: old friend from around 1980

[14:00] - OIHL: first rotisserie hockey league, fantasy before anybody else

[15:00] - 35 years old at Garden: always on edge, how long can this last?

[16:00] - 1984-85 first full-time Rangers TV season, backup years before that

[17:00] - 40-year run at Madison Square Garden: phenomenal under MSG umbrella

[18:00] - Different owners: Paramount, ITT, salary freezes, four ownership groups in 11 years

[19:00] - Never thought of it that way: loved what I was doing so much

[20:00] - ESPN September 1979: first college football games, Hartford Whalers, Washington Capitals

[21:00] - Train rides to DC: scouting and aspiring broadcaster traveling together

[22:00] - 1977 February: Jim Gordon sick, recommended Sam for Knicks-Nets radio

[23:00] - 1982 Joe Cohen: first contract, three-year deals throughout career

[24:00] - Most nervous moment: fan dumped beer on Tom Watt's head, Sam said stop selling beer

[25:00] - Next day: Alan Cohen's office, "Sam, we make a lot of money selling beer"

[26:00] - "Please be careful what you say" - thanked him, left timidly, still had job

[27:00] - Next season: stopped selling beer in third period after second intermission

[28:00] - Wine collection: John Cooper Tampa Bay, Plum Jack Cabernet and Merlot

[29:00] - Bottles from LA Kings, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers

[30:00] - Thursday night: bringing Plum Jack to booth, Cooper might watch from booth

[31:00] - League-wide sendoff: overwhelming, heartwarming, tears come to eyes

[32:00] - Professional associates, friendships in every city: former players, executives, GMs

[33:00] - Salt Lake City: brand new to NHL, fans amazing, lined up for selfies

[34:00] - Phoenix game with Neil: Rick Tocchet

Wayne Gretzky joins Neil Smith and Vic Morren for the very first NHL Wraparound episode. The Great One discusses Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers' remarkable 22-3 turnaround in their last 25 games, Connor Bedard adapting after Brendan Smith's legal jaw-breaking hit, generational players from Bobby Orr through Sidney Crosby to Austin Matthews potentially reaching 800 goals, and Alex Ovechkin's chase of 894. Hear about playing at 147 pounds in Indianapolis, learning from Bobby Clarke to play behind the net because Phil Esposito could stand in the box, why today's players are better than the 80s, Gordie Howe's class when records get broken, Edmonton's four-line success with Paul Coffey coaching defense and Mattias Ekholm's impact, Kenny Holland's patience at 2-9 not trading for a goalie, and transitioning to TNT with Liam McHugh, Anson Carter, Henrik Lundqvist and Paul Bissonnette who studies more than people realize. Plus the only wraparound goal Gretz remembers, steak vs salmon game day meals, playing against Mark Messier in Edmonton, and teaching Coyotes kids to be pros on a $25M payroll.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Welcome: First NHL Wraparound guest ever, Wayne Gretzky, The Great One

[01:00] - Only wraparound goal Gretz remembers: Vancouver 1997 hat trick third goal

[02:00] - Darren Blake traveling secretary: ordered salmon in Vancouver, Gretz wanted steak

[03:00] - Steak and potato game day meal entire career, never eaten salmon on game day

[04:00] - That night scored three goals, last one wraparound against Cloutier

[05:00] - Today's kids: Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, practice tricks, get excited

[06:00] - Gretz not comfortable with skills competition: nothing to gain, everything to lose

[07:00] - Connor Bedard jaw injury: Brendan Smith legal hit coming through middle

[08:00] - Smith answering the bell: showed teammates toughness, respect for game

[09:00] - First day Indianapolis training camp: 147 pounds, Blaine Stoughton "this is our savior"

[10:00] - Playing against bigger competition entire career: 6 vs 10-year-olds, 11 vs 12-year-olds

[11:00] - 14 playing against 20-year-olds, 16 playing against 20-year-olds, never big

[12:00] - Learned to protect myself through years of bigger competition

[13:00] - Age 14 junior B coach Dean Pappas: Phil Esposito greatest center

[14:00] - Esposito 500 shots one year, middle of box on power play, nobody could move him

[15:00] - Coach: go home watch Bobby Clarke, played out of corners more than behind net

[16:00] - Started playing behind net and corners because of size, copying Bobby Clarke

[17:00] - Couldn't stand in middle of box: would've been on rear end, guys knocked you over

[18:00] - Generational player definition: combination of skill, talent, consistency, championships

[19:00] - Gordie Howe retired, Bobby Orr retired, Guy Lafleur retired, Mike Bossy retired

[20:00] - Along came Mario Lemieux, Mark Messier, Steve Yzerman, game survived

[21:00] - Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin: consistent every year, Crosby 37 having best year

[22:00] - Both won championships, great for NHL, wonderful in communities

[23:00] - Helping people less fortunate, helping kids who want to play hockey

[24:00] - Not just on-ice, combination of ice, Stanley Cup, fitting into community

[25:00] - Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, Mitch Marner, Austin Matthews, Connor McDavid next

[26:00] - Great players, great for league, great in communities

[27:00] - Never say we were better in 80s: these kids better than we were 40 years ago

[28:00] - Progression: 20 years from now kids will be better than today, how NHL grows

[29:00] - Impressed how kids handle themselves, play hard every night, show up competitive

[30:00] - Winning Stanley Cup big part: MacKinnon and Makar won, Sidney won, Ovechkin

If ever there was a case to be made about one season having nothing to do with the next, it came over the last two nights. We'll look at four teams from each conference which missed the post-season a year ago and are right in contention while two others who will likely miss again had notable wins.

With 60% of the league schedule having been played, we'll give the projections heading into the weekend, the latest personnel notes and, did you hear Mitch Marner is playing in Toronto Friday?

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/

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