Have you ever heard Randy Moller’s Florida Panthers radio goal calls? If not, you should listen now

SUNRISE, Fla. —

Since the Devils played the Panthers last night, I thought I would resurrect this old post about Randy Moller, the radio voice of the Florida Panthers. If you haven’t ever heard Randy’s calls on the radio, you really should take a listen. He is that good and that entertaining. Originally posted 7 July 2014.

Over the years, thanks to my friendship with Sid Rosenberg, I’ve been afforded a chance to meet some great people around the National Hockey League. I was lucky to have known Peter DeBoer long before he came to New Jersey while he was coaching the Florida Panthers — and I came to know one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet.

And in that same span, I was really blessed to get to know Randy Moller, former NHL defenseman and enforcer — and current play-by-play radio voice of the Florida Panthers, and vice-president of broadcasting for the team.

Dan Lebatard

Many years ago, while the Panthers were on WAXY, 790/104.3 The Ticket, Miami, Randy, at the urging of the station’s afternoon-drive host, Dan Lebatard, began shouting famous lines after the Panthers would score a goal — home or away. And then it expanded to lines about Randy’s mother and famous song lyrics.

He’d shout something like, “He scores! I would do anything for love, but I won’t do THAT!!!!!!!!!!” from Meatloaf’s song.

And from there, it just developed to where whenever the Panthers would score, he’d do something.

This has been happening for at least six years now — and he’s never once repeated a line, saying or lyric.

And, he did tell me that there are times he won’t use a line with a goal — and that’s usually when the team is in the midst of a really bad a loss or a blowout win.

But the truth is, it adds a completely different dimension to the game — and it’s something that’s really needed for a South Florida hockey audience. I’m not sure it would work if Randy were calling Devils games on WFAN or Rangers games on ESPN 98.7 — but it definitely works on WQAM in Miami, and it’s become a true staple down here.

But beyond the unique calls, Randy truly is a tremendous play-by-play announcer. He’s got a great set of pipes for radio. He knows the league as well as anyone you’ll ever hear on the radio. And it just seems like he’s always having a great time calling each and every game — home and away.

Oh, and does it all solo … no colour commentator (though the great Kevin Rogers Alex Donno does do the pre- and post-game show with him on WQAM).

So here are a few videos posted to Youtube. I understand there will be some hockey purists who might not appreciate this style of announcing. Still, I am sharing it — and hope you find some enjoyment to this, because I know I do, for certain.

Despite fairly brutal season, Devils continue to draw

NEWARK —

This has hardly been one for the history books.

And despite that, the New Jersey Devils continue to draw fairly well this season. Now, it's tough to make a comparison to last season's attendance because that included a crowd of 51,000 at Yankee Stadium — and it counted toward average attendance.

But after the same number of games last year, the Devils were averaging 14,624 a game, while this year, the average crowd is 15,383.

Prudential Center holds 16,592.

Despite their incredible season, the New York Islanders are still third in the metro area attendance-wise. They're averaging 14,776 at the 16,100-seat Nassau Coliseum.

What are your thoughts? Comment here, on Google+ or on our Facebook Group. We hope you’ll consider sharing posts you enjoy with other Devils fans on Facebook, Twitter and Google so that we can continue to grow.

Reflections on Martin Brodeur’s career

Martin Brodeur, No. 29.

It was March 26, 1992.

Two friends of mine — Greg and Nick — decided we were going to go to the Devils-Bruins game at the Meadowlands. It was Greg’s birthday, and in a few months, Nick was moving to Boston to go to Boston College for undergraduate studies. So we had two major reasons to go.

When Bob Arsena got to announcing scratches, among them was Chris Terreri, our favourite goaltender. We were bummed, considering the alternatives. But little did we know that also out was Craig Billington. His name was not announced among the scratches. So who would be the goalie?

It was a mystery.

But when it came time for announcing the starters, which used to happen before the players got on to the ice, it was No. 29, Martin Brodeur.

Who?

You’ve got to be kidding me. Not only is Terreri not playing — it’s some nobody, this guy Martin Brodeur, starting in goal. No way this game turns out good. No chance. It’s over before it started.

The Devils won that game, 5-2, and it was the first of 691 wins Martin Brodeur would get in an amazing career. And I was fortunate (lucky) to have been at his very-first NHL game two years before anyone even knew who he was. No. 29, he wore, no less, that night — and a few other nights he played that season (including a playoff-relief performance against the Rangers that April).

Many people say he was a product of the defense in front of him.

I prefer what Jaromir Jagr said last night about him — that he was the 2nd and a half defenseman most nights.

I often wonder if Brodeur hadn’t been the Devils goalie so long if they would have won a cup in 1995, or 2000 or 2003? Would they have even been in the Finals in 2001 or 2012? And the answer is pretty simple — not a chance.

So many games — too many to list here — along the road, he stole games. Too many nights, the Devils won games they should not have won because he was there.

And here we are, the first year he’s gone, and is it any coincidence the Devils are having the worst season in franchise season since the 1988-1989 season, the last team that did not make the playoffs before Marty became the franchise’s No.1 goalie ?

Is it any coincidence Cory Schneider has slipped quite a bit since Marty left (and since he no longer has a veteran by his side, as he did with Roberto Luongo)?

Is it any coincidence the team is apparently upset Brodeur did not come back to New Jersey for a front-office job, a job he was all but guaranteed, instead choosing to remain with St. Louis for the rest of the year?

Here’s the bottom line — Martin Brodeur is, perhaps, the greatest or close to the greatest athlete to ever play in the tri-state area. (Unfortunately because he played on this side of the river, he will often be skipped in such discussions).

He did what so many goalies before him couldn’t do.

He did what athletes who have played, since 1995, with the Mets, Jets, Knicks, Islanders, Rangers and Nets never experienced — not just one, but three championships. Locally, only the Yankees experienced more championships in that timeframe (5 World Series wins). And the Giants ONLY (go ahead, laugh) only won two Super Bowls in that period.

So yes, he did what a majority of local athletes could not do.

He did it all.

Man am I missing him already.

Man do I miss him getting heckled at Madison Square Garden.

Man will it never be the same for this franchise again.

And I was there to see it all begin. Couldn’t ask for more than that.

If you want DeBoer fired, who replaces him?

I keep hearing people say they want Peter DeBoer fired. But there are very few suggestions as to his replacement. So tonight I ask: who replaces a potentially fired Peter DeBoer?

I'll leave the speculation up to you. 

This should be grand. 

Discuss away. 

New Devils goal song sounds way too much like the Rangers goal song

Another new goal song.

While I am certainly glad it’s not Gary Glitter (get over yourselves, anyone who cannot stand that song was taken away), and while this song is pretty cool (produced by a Devils fan), it is way too similar to the Rangers goal song.

But you judge for yourself. Here is is.

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The Devils have officially priced me out of going to premium games ... and likely any games for that matter

I have been a fan of this team since around 1986. When I was in high school, college and post-college, I loved going to games. I would occasionally drive from Newport, R.I., just for a night to go to a Devils game at the old Continental Airlines Arena.

And now, I know for sure, there isn’t a chance in hell I’ll be going to a home game anytime, perhaps ever.

Tonight’s home opener will likely be sold out. There are just a pocket of seats available in the upper tier and a handful in club seats (which do not come with food anymore, by the way, if you buy them on a game-by-game basis).

But it is the upper-corner seats that have me quite angry with this organization and that’s because let’s say I wasn’t in Port St. Lucie, Fla., right now and was instead in New Jersey, if I wanted to go to the game and pay the least amount possible to get in, it would cost me, per seat (and this is without all the stupid fees paid to use your own ink, printer and paper to get these tickets, mind you) $84.90. There is not a cheaper seat than $84.90 for tonight’s home opener. (See red arrow pointing to said seats).

In that very same section, a few years ago, when the Devils opened the building with a game against Ottawa, the seats — $20.

I am sorry. As much as I love this team, there is not a chance in hell I’d pay $84.90 to see the Devils. I don’t care who the opponent is. I don’t care if there will be a 3-D show at 6:45 p.m., before the game starts. These prices are too high — and I just cannot believe there are people who really pay these prices to go to games.

I understand with this new pricing scheme the Devils have developed, these same seats are cheaper for weeknights, lesser opponents, non-Opening Night games, etc. But this just irks me. For some, $84.90 is the equivalent of day’s wage. Imagine parting with that to see a game? I just don’t get it.

The new owners have done a lot of things right since they bought the team. This isn’t one of them.

And sadly, this 28-year Devils fan will likely never see his team in person at home ever again.

That is, of course, unless pricing changes.

And for that, I won’t be holding my breath.

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Screenshots of Devils official Android App

It's pretty awesome, too. You can listen to all games live. Watch games if you've got a Game Center Live subscription and don't live in-market. And there's a ton more. It's available at the Google Play Store.

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Some great new camera angles on NHL Gamecenter Live

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Tonight’s game v. Philly will be on MSG+

Tonight’s pre-season game at home v. Philadelphia will be broadcast on MSG+ at 7 p.m., but beware — MSG is picking up the Flyers’ telecast via Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia. That said, Jim Jackson is not that bad a PBP announcer.

John MacLean joins MSG+ as studio analyst for Devils telecasts

Here is the press release from the Devils and MSG. This is a great move.

MSG Networks announced today that hockey great and Stanley Cup Champion John MacLean has been hired as a hockey analyst for the 2014-15 season. MacLean will replace Ken Daneyko as studio analyst after Daneyko filled the seat as in-game analyst for the retired Glenn “Chico” Resch.

MacLean joins MSG+ as studio analyst for pre- and post-game coverage and intermission reports for all Devils home games. He will also contribute to MSG Networks’ weekly comprehensive hockey show “Hockey Night Live” throughout the season.

The Devils selected MacLean 6th overall in the 1983 NHL entry draft. MacLean’s most legendary moment with the Devils came on April 3, 1988 when he notched an overtime goal against the Chicago Blackhawks to send the Devils to the playoffs for the first time in team history.

In 1995, MacLean helped the Devils hoist the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Two years later he was traded to the San Jose Sharks. MacLean played for the Sharks, the New York Rangers and Dallas Stars until he retired in 2002. MacLean finished his 18-season career playing in a total of 1,194 games, scoring 413 goals, adding 429 assists for 842 careers points. He was the all-time leading scorer for the New Jersey Devils until March 17, 2009, when his record was surpassed by former teammate, Patrik Elias. MacLean was on the coaching staff for the Devils from 2002-2010, and most recently was an assistant coach for the Carolina Hurricanes.

“I’m very excited to join MSG Networks and to share my knowledge of the NHL and the Devils with their loyal and passionate fans,” said MacLean. “To join this esteemed group – Steve, Deb and my former teammate Dano – is a real honor and I can’t wait to get started.”

“John MacLean is a long-standing member of the Devils’ family, having served the organization as both a player and coach,” said Devils’ president/general manager Lou Lamoriello. “We wish him well as he begins the next journey of his hockey career. I know our fans will appreciate the knowledge of the game that he will bring to our telecasts.”

“We are proud to welcome Devils great John MacLean to the Devils broadcast team,” said Daniel Ronayne, executive vice president and general manager of MSG Networks. “As a former player and coach, MacLean brings a unique perspective to the position and we are excited to have him aboard.”

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