Maple Leafs Organization Could Welcome a Bowen, But Not the One You Expect
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs could replace the legendary Joe Bowen behind the mic with his son.
Bowen, the Leafs longtime radio play-by-play announcer, revealed that next season will be his last, and he will be retiring at the end of 2025-26, a role he's fulfilled since 1982, one of the most well-known and longest serving radio commentators in NHL history.
The move was met with sadness as one of the Leafs most prominent faces outside of the team announced his farewell, a longstanding career coming to an end, symbolic of what is a changing Toronto Maple Leafs in it's roster and management.
However, Bowen's legacy won't be lost in Toronto and amongst Leafs fans, and could even be honored with someone very close to him taking the reigns behind the radio, that person being Bowen's own son.
Joe Bowen's Son A Potential Candidate For The Leafs Play by Play Job?
The Toronto Maple Leafs could continue their over-40 year history of a Bowen at the family booth, with Bowen's son, David, someone who could make the leap to the NHL.
Ken Campbell made an argument in 'The Hockey News' for David to potentially take over for his father in leading the Leafs radio call.
The younger Bowen is currently a radio play-by-play host for the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League. Bowen has held the role for the Wolves since 2022.
Bowen had previously played in the OHL for the Wolves as a goaltender, with a 4-1-0 record in seven games, as well as a stint in the QMJHL with Drummondville.
David isn't an experienced commentator, but his father wasn't a veteran or with NHL experience before being hired to be the voice of the Leafs.
Will The Toronto Maple Leafs Hire David Bowen?
The Toronto Maple Leafs, if they wish to honor Bowen's legacy and believe in David's ability, he could be the right man to continue the tradition of the Leafs radio call, and would keep many viewers who grew up on Bowen, beneficial with radio having lost listeners with TV the far dominant way of viewing the sport.
David would have to earn the spot, and there will surely be many other options and those with deep interest in one of the top opportunities in broadcasting.
The idea of the son of one of the most famous voices in hockey history taking over the helmet for his father would be a touching tribute for a true legend of speaking for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
There's only one thing to say to that:
Holy Mackinaw!
| POLL | ||
JUIN 15 | 410 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Organization Could Welcome a Bowen, But Not the One You Expect Should Joe Bowen's son, David, be the new Toronto Maple Leafs play-by-play commentator? | ||
| Yes | 329 | 80.2 % |
| No | 81 | 19.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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