As the New York Rangers embark on the Eastern Conference Finals, they’ll likely have to do so without their beloved play-by-play announcer.
The New York Post reported Wednesday that Sam Rosen, the Rangers’ voice on MSG, will be absent from broadcasts for the foreseeable future as he tends to a health scare.
ESPN New York’s Don La Greca, who still serves as the backup radio play-by-play announcer for the Rangers, revealed on Wednesday’s edition of The Michael Kay Show that Rosen had been dealing with spells of dizziness and had to be hospitalized recently.
While Rosen has been doing well since, La Greca will be on the call for Games 2, 3 and 4. But those games won’t be on MSG, as due to national broadcasting rights, Rangers games are only shown on national channels (ESPN and TNT) after the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, La Greca and Dave Maloney can be heard on ESPN radio’s broadcast for the remainder of the playoffs.
Whether that means Rosen will be absent if the Rangers make it past the Florida Panthers for their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance since 2014 remains unclear.
“I’m also doing Games 2, 3, and 4 of the series, filling in for Sam Rosen,” La Greca said during the program via the NY Post. “Sam is OK, but I know there’s a lot of people wondering what’s going on with Sam. He was suffering some dizziness. He had to go to the hospital. He got a clean bill of health. He’s OK. All is fine, but he did have a little bit of an issue.”
@GardenFaithful Kenny was supposed to call tonight but bad weather forced him to leave early. Sam is ok, but I’d unable to travel so can’t do Game 2-4. pic.twitter.com/38WJah8ouS
— Jason Gurwin (@Blueshirts4me) May 22, 2024
We certainly hope that Sam is back in the booth, sooner than later.
[NY Post]
