Rangers’ New Broadcast Team Takes the Stage

The Rangers fan base will find themselves adjusting to a fresh broadcast team on the MSG Network.

Interestingly, the new duo doesn’t really need much time to get acquainted.

After letting ESPN take over the commentary booth during their season opener against the Penguins, veteran radio announcers Kenny Albert and Dave Maloney will now team up with the retiring pair of Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti for the upcoming game in Buffalo.

“It’s really exciting for me. It’s a role I never imagined I’d have,” Maloney, 69, shared during a phone interview. “I have a substantial history with JD” [referring to former analyst John Davidson]. “But I’ve been working with Kenny for ages, so this feels just right.”

Drafted by the Rangers in the first round of the 1974 NHL Entry Draft, Maloney spent 11 seasons with the team. He transitioned to broadcasting while recovering from an injury during the 1984-85 season and took on various announcing roles. In 2005, he became the chief radio analyst for the Rangers.

For the past two decades, Maloney has teamed up with Albert, who joined as a play-by-play announcer in 1995 and has also worked with figures like Sal Messina and former Rangers forward Brian Mullen.

Albert expressed his gratitude, stating, “The Rangers have pretty much had only two play-by-play announcers, so this is a huge honor. Having Dave alongside me makes it even more special,” while he was in Las Vegas preparing to cover a game between the Golden Knights and Kings for TNT.

Interestingly, Albert and Maloney were actually in London recently for a Vikings vs. Browns NFL game, having just wrapped up a season where they parted ways during their last radio broadcast.

Albert, who is 57, was already named as the successor to Rosen, though Micheletti’s retirement wasn’t formally announced at that point.

“It was a bit emotional since we’ve spent 20 years together and called over 1,000 games on the air,” Albert noted. “None of us expected that Dave would also switch over to TV, and I couldn’t be happier about it.”

Both announcers acknowledged the distinct challenges of transitioning from radio to TV, but their strong working relationship should facilitate an easy shift.

“I always thought it was kind of like that Rod Stewart song ‘Every Picture Tells a Story,'” Maloney commented. “I couldn’t have asked for a better situation.”

“Kenny really shines when he covers other sports; his partners are always top-notch because he trusts them completely. I couldn’t have envisioned a better setup than working with him, whom I truly respect.”