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 career: Washington traded as depth defenseman

[01:44:00] - Rob Laird head coach, Barry assistant: every year play prank on somebody

[01:45:00] - Interview with Barry early in year: something came out wrong, he flubbed word

[01:46:00] - Didn't use on air: made mistake playing tape for some players

[01:47:00] - Word got back to Trotz: roomed together to save money on road

[01:48:00] - Broadcaster and assistant coach: two years road roommates

[01:49:00] - "I'm gonna get you back one day, don't worry"

[01:50:00] - Recipient of fake arrest prank: landed Sydney Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Oilers

[01:51:00] - Got off plane: pulled into small room, questioned

[01:52:00] - Put in police car: drove around 15 minutes asking if passport valid

[01:53:00] - Anything illegal in bag? Know anybody in trouble?

[01:54:00] - Pulled up to team hotel: "One more question, do you know Jimmy Wiseman?"

[01:55:00] - Late Jim Wiseman: longtime security officer Capitals, great guy

[01:56:00] - Brother was police chief Sydney: set up whole thing

[01:57:00] - Barry Trotz still loves talking about story: lunch Nashville month ago

[01:58:00] - 23-24 at time, Barry 26-27: three decades later still laughing about it

[01:59:00] - Those are memories: things you go through

[02:00:00] - Three decades: seen so much, lived so much

[02:01:00] - Biggest change as broadcaster? Industry continued to evolve

[02:02:00] - Vic at it 40 years: seen many changes early to mid-eighties

[02:03:00] - Technology probably biggest change: everything available click of keyboard

[02:04:00] - Any article want to read, any game want to watch

[02:05:00] - Back then preparing: couldn't watch team's previous game unless national TV

[02:06:00] - Graphics on games: didn't have score and time upper left entire game

[02:07:00] - Came into play mid-nineties: technology biggest thing we've seen

[02:08:00] - Teams use it: players, coaches, video, iPads on bench

[02:09:00] - Who would've thought: watching video previous shift while on bench

[02:10:00] - Circle back to hockey: Tuesdays typically New York centric

[02:11:00] - League schedules shut down until week from Saturday: baking in New York centric

[02:12:00] - Rangers: know them like back of hand, inconsistency defending President's Trophy

[02:13:00] - Won two outta three: beat Boston TNT call, listless Pittsburgh, trailed Columbus

[02:14:00] - Why so inconsistent? Only react when asses on burner

[02:15:00] - Every season different: President's Trophy 1992, missed playoffs 1993, Cup 1994

[02:16:00] - Unbelievable swing: three season swing Rangers went through

[02:17:00] - This year whirlwind: start 12-4-1, then 4-15 stretch

[02:18:00] - Stretch pick up point 10 straight games: last week plus three in one

[02:19:00] - All three wins trailing heading into third period: resiliency

[02:20:00] - Came back trailing after second: Vegas, Boston, Columbus

[02:21:00] - Pittsburgh game: probably would want that one back

[02:22:00] - Set franchise records wins and points last year: race for playoff spot this year

[02:23:00] - Along with nine other teams: two wild card spots

[02:24:00] - JT Miller trade: certainly adjusted way team plays

[02:25:00] - Zibanejad and Panarin on his line: playing little bit differently

[02:26:00] - Zibanejad real good stretch: eight points last four games

[02:27:00] - Pick up big late goal from Cuylle: beat Columbus, real positives heading into break

[02:28:00] - Six players going Four Nations: four Americans, Zibanejad, Panarin

[02:29:00] - Huge win Columbus: if lost regulation, pretty big gap

[02:30:00] - Narrowed it with win: see what they could do coming out of break

[02:31:00] - Islanders: where Kenny raised and grew up, not as fan of local team

[02:32:00] - Injury plague season: lot of guys on shelf, lot of defensemen

[02:33:00] - Lou Lamoriello: picked up three this season on waivers

[02:34:00] - Barzal out until don't know when: knee surgery

[02:35:00] - Beat Vegas 2-1 Tuesday: Sorokin amazing at that game

[02:36:00] - Fall short Winnipeg 4-3: out-shot Jets 19-6 third period

[02:37:00] - Saturday back-to-back: Winnipeg to Minnesota, fall 6-3

[02:38:00] - Will you be there February 25 UBS Arena? I'll have radio call

[02:39:00] - Grew up Long Island: didn't necessarily root for Islander teams

[02:40:00] - Lot of respect: wound up working games Dennis Potvin, Bobby Nystrom

[02:41:00] - Great guys personally: really enjoyed working with them

[02:42:00] - This year's Islander team: credit for way played January, early February

[02:43:00] - Seven game win streak despite all injuries: Patrick Wahlstrom playing really well

[02:44:00] - Three defensemen: DeAngelo, Perunovich, Dobson off waiver wire

[02:45:00] - DeAngelo coming back from Russia: core pretty similar

[02:46:00] - Back-to-back conference finals Barry Trotz: bubble Edmonton, next year Tampa

[02:47:00] - 2021 nothing Game 7 Tampa: if win that game, they're in Cup Final

[02:48:00] - Real good stretch with core group: battled make playoffs last year

[02:49:00] - Right in mix again despite injuries: have to give lot of credit

[02:50:00] - When all three area teams make playoffs: hasn't happened lot recent years

[02:51:00] - Raises excitement level: amount of people paying attention to hockey

[02:52:00] - Back page newspapers: people talking about it on radio

[02:53:00] - Great for sport when all three teams in area doing well

[02:54:00] - Devils shoe-in to make playoffs: win two outta three this week

[02:55:00] - Win shootout Pittsburgh: two-nothing lead let get away, Timo Meier goal

[02:56:00] - Out-shot 40-15 by Vegas: real flat effort, 3-1 loss

[02:57:00] - Shut out Canadiens 4-0 Saturday: Jake Allen fourth shutout season

[02:58:00] - Upgrades Tom Fitzgerald made: coaching change Sheldon Keefe

[02:59:00] - Almost locked into 2-3 with Carolina: hard time finding consistency

[03:00:00] - Need to raise level: once get to playoffs in two months

[03:01:00] - Agree on that: upgrades made big part of it

[03:02:00] - Bringing in Jacob Markstrom: huge upgrade in goal, didn't have goaltending last year

[03:03:00] - Veteran defensemen: Brett Pesce, Dougie Hamilton

[03:04:00] - Young defensemen: Luke Hughes and Jonas Siegenthaler up on first or second pair

[03:05:00] - Luke Hughes taken major step this year: played really well offensively and defensively

[03:06:00] - Having veterans around: Pesce, Hamilton, Markstrom in goal major factor

[03:07:00] - Superstars up front: Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier

[03:08:00] - Pretty set offensively: defensive part, goaltending issue last year

[03:09:00] - If Jersey-Carolina first round: gonna have real good team go out round one

[03:10:00] - Too bad can't be later in playoffs: should be two high-level teams postseason

[03:11:00] - Story before recording: first time heard about Neil Smith

[03:12:00] - Young hockey player growing up Long Island: Twin Rinks Port Washington 10 minutes

[03:13:00] - Spend all day weekends: five-hour public skating sessions

[03:14:00] - Intramural hockey four o'clock: puck shooting, goalies in free

[03:15:00] - Twin Rinks all the time: right around 1980 Olympics Lake Placid

[03:16:00] - So many more kids started signing up: boys and girls

[03:17:00] - Mid-level amount kids to didn't have enough space: boon in hockey Long Island

[03:18:00] - Walking in one day: big sign up front like it was yesterday

[03:19:00] - "Welcome our new skating instructor Neil Smith, New York Islanders draft pick"

[03:20:00] - First time ever heard name: went home looked you up NHL guide record book

[03:21:00] - Drafted 1974: signed up as skating instructor Twin Rinks

[03:22:00] - Met couple years later: press room Madison Square Garden

[03:23:00] - Became friends: together with Rangers for many years

[03:24:00] - All goes back: rink hasn't been there since mid-eighties

[03:25:00] - Twin Rinks Port Washington: where we were first connected

[03:26:00] - Those were fun days: climbing ladder often more fun than being on top

[03:27:00] - Journey try to get where we've all been: Kenny still there by the way

[03:28:00] - So much fun: enjoyment looking back at journey thinking how great

[03:29:00] - Stanley Cup Final this year: calling Stanley Cup Final

[03:30:00] - We'll be watching: enjoying your call as we always do

[03:31:00] - Something personal before you go: what makes you great human

[03:32:00] - Dad Marv: humbleness, good person, humble person

[03:33:00] - Often said about Neil: "He's such a nice guy"

[03:34:00] - Should I be a dick? Pride myself on being nice guy

[03:35:00] - Outside assume: high and mighty ego guy because of accomplishments

[03:36:00] - Great broadcasters: yourself, many others, Eddie Olczyk on Ranger team

[03:37:00] - Get to talk: oh wow what a nice guy

[03:38:00] - Watch on TV or from afar: assumption they feel as great as you think

[03:39:00] - When talk to them: just great people, you're one of them

[03:40:00] - Really appreciate kind words: crew fortunate have Cup Final again this year

[03:41:00] - Worked Cup Final 2021 NBC with Eddie: 2023 in Vegas

[03:42:00] - Every other year now: Eddie, Brian Boucher, Jackie Redmond there this year

[03:43:00] - Can't wait: two games Four Nations next Monday in Boston

[03:44:00] - Canada-Finland matchup: United States and...