Michael Taylor

[LeafsJellyHD @LeafsJelly]

Joe Bowen’s Final Message as he signs off for the last time

🔊​​ @Bonsie1951 @Jim_Ralph

[LeafsJellyHD @LeafsJelly]

A lovely and emotional message as @Bonsie1951 signs off for the final time at home

[Toronto Maple Leafs @MapleLeafs]

🐐

[Toronto Maple Leafs @MapleLeafs]

Sometimes it just writes itself

[Maple Leafs Hotstove @LeafsNews]

“HOLY MACKINAW!”

MATTHEWS AND JOSHUA SCORE 8 SECONDS APART vs Blackhawks

🔊 @bonsie34 @Jim_Ralph @Bonsie1951

[Toronto Maple Leafs @MapleLeafs]

"I love playing for the Leafs! The best job in the world"

📺 https://t.co/11TWXxfskL | @Rogers

[Ryan Leslie @ryanlesliemedia]

#LeafsForever

[Michael Taylor @Mike_Taylor01]

@EASPORTSNHL #NHL26

[EA SPORTS NHL @EASPORTSNHL]

WE HEAR YOU 👂
MORE CODE GIVEAWAYS.

REPOST + COMMENT #NHL26 FOR A CHANCE TO WIN YOUR COPY

[Michael Taylor @Mike_Taylor01]

@EASPORTSNHL #NHL26

[EA SPORTS NHL @EASPORTSNHL]

More Code Giveaways ‼️

REPOST + COMMENT #NHL26 For a Chance to Win a Copy!

[Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie]

The trade is one for none.

Which is to say I’m exchanging my semi-retired TSN life of the last five years — doing the World Junior Championships, NHL Draft Rankings, a handful of Toronto Maple Leaf broadcasts, TradeCentre and Free Agent Frenzy — for a fully-retired life of doing absolutely nothing.

Well, nothing work related anyway.

Today’s Free Agent Frenzy is the last working day in a 48-year professional career that included stops at The Sault Star, The Globe and Mail, The Hockey News (twice), The Toronto Star, TSN, ESPN and NBC, amongst others.

It’s been quite a ride.

I’ll be 69 years old in August. I decided a few months ago it’s as nice a time as any to call it a career with the expiry of my current contract. If I had been so inclined to continue doing the World Juniors and draft rankings etc. at TSN, the opportunity was certainly there for me to do so. And I’m so grateful to TSN for that.

Honestly, though, I am looking forward to waking up on Christmas morning this year and NOT flying to Minneapolis-St. Paul for the World Juniors.

I’m also looking forward to doing more travelling with my wife Cindy; having more time to give my sons Mike and Shawn unwanted (and unneeded) advice; playing even more golf than I am now; and having my two wonderful grandchildren Blake and Gunnar running my show on a full-time basis.

After almost 50 years in the business, there are far too many people to thank individually, so I won’t even try to name any lest I leave some out.

Just know that I’ve been blessed to work for, work with and work against so many great people who gave me boundless opportunity, incredible support and intense motivation. The nearly five decades have gone by in the blink of an eye.

I certainly never set out to be the TSN Hockey Insider. It never occurred to me that I would work in television. All I wanted to be when I grew up was a hockey writer, to have a “job” to watch, write and talk about the game. You know, tell a few stories and try to capture the spirit of the thing.

Mission accomplished, I guess.

I couldn’t say goodbye now without a special thanks to everyone at TSN, past and present.

I first started showing up on the network in or around 1986-87. In the 1990s, I was working full-time hours at TSN but still had a full time newspaper job, too. Since 2000, 25 years ago, TSN has been my primary professional home.

It’s been a very special place on so many levels. The best part of TSN has always been the people. The best people doing the best work. What an honour to be one small part of the unsurpassed excellence that is TSN. Every time I’ve walked out of Studio Six at the end of Free Agent Frenzy on July 1, I’ve said to myself: “It doesn’t get any better than that.”

And it doesn’t. That’s especially true on this Canada Day because I’m so very proud to be a Canadian. 🇨🇦

I’m a very lucky guy. I owe the game of hockey, and all the people within it — the players, coaches, managers, executives, scouts, agents et al — so much; I owe my family and friends even more. 

Finally, thank you to anyone who has ever read, watched or listened to any of my work in any form at any outlet over the last 48 years. It’s been a privilege to share some information with you all, and try to have a few laughs along the way on social media or whatever they’re calling it these days.

I’ve cherished it all.

Fully Completely.

✌️and 💕 

-30-

[Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger]

4 years $4.38 aav for Tavares

[Leafs Papi @LeafsPapi_]

Coming soon

[Chris McCluskey @mcclusk]

It would be great if @Sportsnet and the @MapleLeafs could find a way to get Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph back on the TV broadcast for Joe’s final year.

I’ve seen (and signed) countless petitions for this over the years.

Everybody wants this. Joe is a legend. Leafs should be pulling out all the stops to celebrate him this year.

There has to be a way. There has to be.

[Joe Bowen BA,LLD,U of Windsor @Bonsie1951]

Sinatra said it best
And now the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend I'll say it clear
I'll state my case of which I'm certain

I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way!!
THX LEAF NATION!

[Toronto Maple Leafs @MapleLeafs]

💙

[katie @katieonleafstwt]

A whole subway car of Leafs fans singing the national anthem to Natalie Morris, the Leafs anthem singer.

💙 Leafs Nation

[Joe Bowen BA,LLD,U of Windsor @Bonsie1951]

Fortunately the official was close
Enough to see it. Sort of like the other night with Stollarz

[Down Goes Brown @DownGoesBrown]

OK, yes, that should have been a penalty on Bennett for an intentional forearm to Stolarz's head.

But look at it from the refs' perspective: if they call that, Paul Maurice might hold up some fingers at them, and then they can't call anything for the rest of the series.