SUMMER SERIES: Doc’s 10-greatest Devils calls — #1 — Adam

NEWARK —

 

I debated, a long time, whether to flip this with the first Cup win from 1995. But from a pure excitement point of view, there was never a more exciting call -- or, for that matter, moment -- that Doc called for the Devils. We go back to just two years ago in the Eastern Conference Finals. Game No. 6 in overtime. To me, the greatest Doc Emrick Devils call of all time.

SUMMER SERIES: Doc’s 10-greatest Devils calls — #2 — The Championship to New Jersey! The Devils win the Stanley Cup!

Of the five times the Devils have played in the Stanley Cup Finals, Doc was behind the mic for just two of them — 1995 and 2012. Gary Thorne did the honours in 2000, 2001 and 2003 for ABC Sports. Doc had the clincher in 1995, which was broadcast on Fox (he also did Game 1 of the series v. Detroit that year, while Thorne had Games 2 & 3 for ESPN).

No. 2 on my list of Doc’s 10-greatest Devils calls — the first championship in 1995. The final seconds.

Coming tomorrow, what will be my top Doc Devils call of all time? Be sure to check back at 3 p.m. ET Friday.

SUMMER SERIES: Doc’s Greatest Calls — #6 — ‘Nice Move!’

We will simply call this one NICE MOVE.

After tries in 1992, 1994 and 1997, the Devils finally beat the Rangers in the post season — and it was as one-sided a series as the Devils have ever played — in 2006 after the return from the first-ever full-season lockout.

And who says Devils fans don’t fill Madison Square Garden?

This particular afternoon, they sure did. And were perhaps the loudest they were — even to this date — in that building.

This was the final goal scored in the series — and Patrik Elias had it.

SUMMER SERIES: My 10 favourite Doc Emrick Devils calls of all time — #10 — ‘Seemingly Harmless’

Let's start it off with No. 10 — First Round, 1995. We’ll call this one SEEMINGLY HARMLESS. (You’ll see why after watching it). Also notice how Jacques Lemaire almost looks disappointed, shaking his head with a smirk about.

I remember this game, not just because of the way it ended, but because I was supposed to be there for it — but a friend’s credit card got declined AFTER Ticketmaster told us the tickets were paid for. Glad I didn’t make the 180-mile car trip from Newport, R.I., to Jersey.

The game sold out (a rarity for Round 1 post-seasons games at that time) and I wound up watching it on television — though via the Bruins telecast on WSBK since I was in Newport, R.I.

Peter McNab is the voice you hear screaming “They did it!” Blaine Lacher is the Bruins’ goaltender at the time. The game had no goals and was in OT-1.

Find the mistake in the graphics here and win 5 points

This is a screen-grab from Doc Emrick's all-time favourite Devils' moments. The first person to find the error in the graphic — in the comments section, on Facebook or Twitter — wins five points. Carry on.

Where's the mistake here? First correct answer wins you five bonus points. 

5th-favourite Doc Emrick Devils call

Round 2 -- 1995 -- Neal Broten in Game 4. (Toward the end of the video clip--very hard to find this clip anywhere).

6th-favourite Doc Emrick's Devils call

Finally--the Devils are able to beat the Rangers in the playoffs, in a sweep no less, in 2006. Here's the final Devils goal of that series, courtesy of Patrik Elias.

7th-favourite Doc Emrick Devils call

Something you rarely see in hockey, but it happened in 1997.

8th-favourite Doc Emrick Devils call

1994 -- game 7 against Buffalo in the first round. So simple. So dramatic. And notice how Peter McNab doesn't care to hide that he's pleased. (Sorry, Randy).

9th-favourite Doc Emrick Devils call

Let's go back to 2003. Grant Marshall ends the series with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Doc's Most Improbable Call

Two I'd rather forget.

My 10 all-time favourite Doc Emrick calls

One per day. Starting with my 10th-favourite all time.

Let's go back to 1995 -- first round against Boston -- Game 4. Randy McKay scores in OT to break a scoreless tie.

Some Thoughts on Doc's Replacement

By Kevin Canessa Jr.
NewJerseyDevilsBlog

The departure of Doc Emrick from MSG has, of course, led to speculation as to whom would be best to "replace" him. And while filling Doc's shoes will be a monumental task, there are a few guys who come to mind immediately as consummate professionals who I believe would be great fits in the booth at the Rock.

Goldstein

-- Steve 'Goldie' Goldstein is the current play-by-play voice on TV for the Florida Panthers. In 2010, we were fortunate to hear Goldie teamed up with John Vanbeisbrouck doing USA Olympic hockey games on the radio. Goldie is passionate about hockey, in a market that generally doesn't care about its hockey team. He would be my first choice were I looking to hire someone for Doc's replacement.

Moller

-- Randy Moller is currently also working for the Florida Panthers, on WQAM-560 in Miami, as radio play-by-play announcer. His unique style would bring a new dimension to Devils games. Want proof? Have a listen to some of these classic Moller calls from the radio.

Rose

-- Howie Rose. How about a lateral move from Long Island, where he clearly hates having to call Islanders games to New Jersey, where he'd actually get to call playoff games? Howie is as good as they come. And this wouldn't be a first. Joe Micheletti left the Islanders booth as colour commentator to join the Rangers a few years back, after John Davidson left to become general manager of the St. Louis Blues.

Albert

-- Kenny Albert, son of Marv Albert, has paid his dues on MSG radio calling Rangers games. Perhaps it's time he moves on to TV? His grasp on the NHL is superb, and he'd be yet another Rangers announcer who went on to call games for a rival?

LaGreca

-- Don LaGreca is perhaps the most obvious choice. He's already under contract with MSG (he subs on Rangers broadcasts on the radio) and he's as big a Devils fan as there is. He's also well known for hosting "NHL Live" on Sirius/XM radio and is one of the most noted hockey commentators in the United States.

Loughlin

Cangialosi

-- Steve Cangialosi and/or Matt Loughlin have both been employed by the team for years, and it's possible Lou Lamoriello might just want to move someone up from a lower position. I'd accept this -- but would still prefer some of the otherwise mentioned.

Everett

-- Finally, Seth Everett. I have to be careful with this choice, because I know Seth personally, and I don't want to come across as a so-called "homer." However, like LaGreca, Seth is another passionate Devils fan and is, in my mind, one of the best and  most under-appreciated sports-talk hosts in the country.

Perhaps Seth's biggest challenge would be his new-found work in Philadelphia -- on The Talker 1210 doing Phillies post-games and his added work on 1210, WIP-610 and KYW-1060.

However, his connection to the team, CBS Radio (which has Devils radio-broadcasting rights) and the New Jersey Nets (Seth does the pre- and post-game shows for them on WFAN) could make him a shoe-in, perhaps for the radio gig if Loughlin is moved to the TV side. This wouldn't be Seth's first foray into NHL work either, having spent several years working on Colorado Avalanche Broadcasts.

Doc's Leaving the Devils Is Like Losing a Friend

Mike 'Doc' Emrick,  Ph.D.

Back in 1993, I left New Jersey for Newport, R.I., having transferred from Seton Hall University to Salve Regina University. Mind you, this was well before the days of NHL Ticket -- and the only way to see Devils games in Rhode Island was when they played the Bruins or Whalers -- or in going to Bobby Valentine's sports pub in nearby Middletown, R.I.

So it came as a huge disappointment in October 1993 when I learned Gary Thorne was no longer the Devils' play-by-play announcer, having been replaced by the already-immortal Michael "Doc" Emrick. I couldn't believe it -- my first year away, Doc was back with the Devils, and I'd barely get to hear him.

Regardless, because of breaks and because those years the Devils were often playing late into each post-season, I got my share of Doc. And after graduation from Salve, it was the same. First it was with Peter McNab. Then with Doug Sulliman for a year. And finally Chico Resch.

Yet it didn't matter who he was paired with, Doc was the best at what he did -- and was, to me, the best in all of sports.

His words have stuck with generations of Devils fans. Who could forget 1995.

"The championship to New Jersey. The Devils win the Stanley Cup!"

It was the first of three Cups for the Devs, and sadly, the only time he got to call a Cup winner for them. ABC covered the Finals in 2000 and 2003, and it was Gary Thorne who had the honors.

For nearly 20 years, Doc's voice came into our living rooms -- every October through as late as May. He called a game like no one else could, a true wordsmith.

When I found out he was leaving the Devils to work only with NBC and whatever they call Versus in the coming months, I felt like I lost a dear friend. His voice was a part of some of the greatest memories I've ever had. And now, come October, he won't be there, save for the rare occasion NBC or Versus carries a Devils game.

I'll miss him -- and thousands others will, too.

Yet rather than being upset with the move, it's a time to remember just how fortunate we were to have the best announcer to ever put on a headset. And if you don't get that, simply turn on a hockey game from anywhere else around the country.

Maybe then it'll all make sense as to just how lucky we were.

Emrick Resigns From Devils Broadcast Booth

Dr. Michael Emrick, who has called two stints of Devils games -- including the last 18 seasons in 19 years -- has resigned from the Devils' broadcast booth to have a lighter schedule.

He will continue to call games on NBC and whatever the new name of Versus becomes later this summer. Here's a letter Doc wrote to the fans and here's Stan Fischler's reflections on Doc.

Later tonight or tomorrow, I'll have a column on this move which is very, very saddening.