Kenny Albert on Rangers Struggles, 1994 Stanley Cup Radio Call & National Jewish Hall of Fame

Kenny Albert, Rangers radio voice and one of sports broadcasting's most versatile talents, joins Neil Smith and Vic Morren for an in-depth career discussion. From 2025 National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame induction to his autobiography "A Mic for All Seasons" now available on audiobook, hear about calling the 1994 Stanley Cup Final on NHL Radio when Rangers-Canucks matched his two favorite teams, Barry Trotz fake arrest prank in Baltimore Skipjacks days, growing up with legendary father Marv Albert, and preparation differences between 20-30 hour NFL weeks versus NHL games. Plus comprehensive Rangers analysis on inconsistency and JT Miller trade impact, Washington and Winnipeg surprising success, Detroit and Ottawa turnarounds, Islanders injury plague with three waiver pickups, Devils inconsistency despite upgrades, why all three New York teams making playoffs raises excitement, radio versus TV call differences working with Dave Maloney and Eddie Olczyk, Twin Rinks Port Washington skating instructor origin story where Neil first saw Kenny's name, and humbleness making journey to top more fun than being there. Broadcasting legend shares 40 years of career insights.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Welcome: A Man for All Seasons with Kenny Albert joining NHL Wraparound

[01:00] - Great privilege: reminiscing with good friend Kenny Albert

[02:00] - 2025 National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame induction: great names inducted past years

[03:00] - Hall of Fame located Commack Long Island: big honor to be included

[04:00] - Madison Square Garden press room: sitting with mom and dad after Rangers games

[05:00] - Neil scouting for Islanders: innocent days for all of us

[06:00] - NHL this season: things didn't see coming or surprised you

[07:00] - Two biggest surprises: Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets

[08:00] - Washington last year playoffs: tired, old, slow against Rangers

[09:00] - Retooled: Pierre-Luc Dubois, Logan Thompson, key players during off-season

[10:00] - Alex Ovechkin amazing season: Spencer Carbery a lot of credit

[11:00] - Winnipeg: Scott Arniel great guy, assistant coach with Rangers

[12:00] - Head coaching opportunity Columbus: long time assistant, takes over where he played

[13:00] - East Coast doesn't pay attention: tremendous goaltending Hellebuyck, terrific players

[14:00] - Flip side disappointments: Detroit, Ottawa, Buffalo on the rise

[15:00] - Todd McLellan coming in: terrific record since took over

[16:00] - Ottawa finally next level: challenging for playoff spot, still time left

[17:00] - Montreal rough start then great stretch: right in mix as well

[18:00] - Pittsburgh impressive without Crosby and Malkin: leading up to break

[19:00] - Not many teams really out of it: three-point games, 25-26 games remaining

[20:00] - Players get to refresh: 100 players Four Nations, others recharge

[21:00] - Doing color with Kenny at Joe Louis Arena: Detroit on Versus/OLN

[22:00] - Over-preparer: tend to do even more than probably need

[23:00] - Learning tricks of trade: what to do and what not to do through years

[24:00] - Keep all game sheets: file cabinet to my left, could pull it out

[25:00] - 1994 Stanley Cup Final: NHL Radio, looked through sheets recently

[26:00] - Grew up Vancouver Canucks fan but also Rangers fan

[27:00] - Working Washington doing Capitals home games cable 1992-95

[28:00] - Also WTOP radio station: Rangers-Devils conference final happening

[29:00] - Howie Rose and Mike Keenan: 1993 Final NHL Radio, Los Angeles-Montreal

[30:00] - 1994: Howie supposed to do NHL Radio final, unavailable if Rangers got there

[31:00] - Got call day of Game 3 Rangers-Devils series: would you be interested?

[32:00] - 26 years old: of course I'd be interested, Rangers and Canucks my two teams

[33:00] - Opportunity call final with Sherry Ross: Howie and Mike busy that stretch

[34:00] - Preparation: hockey and football done most, identified with

[35:00] - Also basketball and baseball through years: similar but different time

[36:00] - Football 20-30 hours per week: practices, players, coaches, production meetings

[37:00] - Each team one game week: every game big, all national games

[38:00] - Week 16 team haven't seen all season: catch up on entire season

[39:00] - Hockey different: teams playing 3-4 games week, all watching, reading, paying attention

[40:00] - Rangers game on radio: not nearly as much preparation as football or national hockey

[41:00] - Know Rangers like back of hand: don't have to do that much preparation

[42:00] - Still going practice talking guys: listening coach, doing lot of reading

[43:00] - Reading every article out there: never know when pick up little tidbit

[44:00] - Studying other team: watching previous game if can, read week's worth articles

[45:00] - Back in day internet didn't exist: no cell phones, reading weekly publications

[46:00] - Articles faxed to us by PR staff: lot different those days

[47:00] - Now click of button: read anything, watch any game

[48:00] - National games TNT with Eddie Olczyk and Brian Boucher: week's worth articles both teams

[49:00] - Try watch previous game: get in there, talk to coaches, go to practice

[50:00] - Story about preparation working out: last Wednesday Rangers-Bruins TNT

[51:00] - Craig Lockland open heart surgery day before: wanted to wish well on air

[52:00] - Picture Ovechkin wearing Locker Strong t-shirt: had ready from Capitals tweet

[53:00] - Third period commercial: good time to send well wishes to Craig

[54:00] - Something goes off in head: look down ice, see Zach Jones

[55:00] - Scratch for 18 consecutive games: playing first time in two months

[56:00] - Registers: Zach Jones' father equipment manager Richmond Renegades ECHL

[57:00] - Craig Lockland owned team with Rod Langway: where Zach learned to skate

[58:00] - Tie-in just by accident: happened to be playing, happened to be on ice

[59:00] - Example of preparation: things learn through years talking to people

[01:00:00] - Schmoozing at morning skates: pick up little tidbits of information

[01:01:00] - Turning something you know into moment that works well on television

[01:02:00] - Preparation local game different than national game

[01:03:00] - Go back and forth radio and TV: much different call

[01:04:00] - Descriptive on radio: time and score lot more often, allow color analysts key moments

[01:05:00] - Dave Maloney former captain: our 20th season together

[01:06:00] - Not as much time on radio: calling action for most of time

[01:07:00] - TV with Eddie Olczyk: more time for him to talk during play neutral zone

[01:08:00] - Definitely different perspective: TV versus radio

[01:09:00] - Baltimore Skipjacks: 1990-91 and 1991-92, Adirondack Red Wings

[01:10:00] - Little square building: stage on one end just like Rochester Americans

[01:11:00] - Enjoy trivia: millions of pieces of useless information

[01:12:00] - Have to love attention to very slight detail: drive friends and family nuts

[01:13:00] - Sign wasn't there yesterday: guy wearing different helmet tonight

[01:14:00] - Kenny's brain works same way: morning skate noticing banner that wasn't there

[01:15:00] - Sixth sense: minds work in pretty similar way

[01:16:00] - October 2023: autobiography "A Mic for All Seasons" released

[01:17:00] - Audio book just been released: those who have time to kill in car

[01:18:00] - Dad Marv Albert legend: model and mold for sportscasters

[01:19:00] - Two uncles Alan and Steve also in industry: besides immediate family most influential?

[01:20:00] - Uncles come to house: felt like listening first all-sports radio station

[01:21:00] - Telling stories: learning via osmosis sitting around table

[01:22:00] - Didn't have cable until 17: big radio listener every sport

[01:23:00] - Picked up Chuck Katen Hartford Whalers: one radio in kitchen

[01:24:00] - Hockey was favorite: loved all sports but hockey little bit ahead

[01:25:00] - Howie Rose, Doc Emrick, Sam Rosen: definitely the three

[01:26:00] - Barry Landers, Jiggs McDonald: Islanders great announcers back in day

[01:27:00] - Larry Hirsch first couple years Devils: Fred Shero on Devils games

[01:28:00] - Howie huge influence: Neil and Howie close, mutual friends way back

[01:29:00] - Worked for Howie during college years: associate producer Mets Extras

[01:30:00] - Out at Shea Stadium with Howie until midnight: learned so much being around him

[01:31:00] - Had just started doing Rangers play-by-play at time: right up there

[01:32:00] - Listening to Doc and Sam: getting to know both 30-40 years ago as friends

[01:33:00] - Traveled with Rangers 29 years: sitting next to Sam on plane

[01:34:00] - Together other night coming home from Columbus

[01:35:00] - Doc Emrick colleague: worked several Olympics together

[01:36:00] - First Olympics opportunity: Doc pulled out 2002 when dog got sick

[01:37:00] - Didn't want leave wife home alone: my first opportunity Olympic hockey

[01:38:00] - Grew up listening to: big influences through years

[01:39:00] - Skipjack days: favorite stories in book, used in proposal sent to publishers

[01:40:00] - AHL time: on bus with team, Barry Trotz road roommate two years

[01:41:00] - Assistant coach: third winningest coach NHL history now

[01:42:00] - Joel Quenneville on team first year: second and third winningest coaches history

[01:43:00] - Quenneville wrapping up playing...