The Toronto Maple Leafs have one year to give their Hall of Fame play-by-play man Joe Bowen the parting gift of a lifetime. Since 1982-83, Bowen has been at the mic for either television or radio for the Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs], and not once have they won a Stanley Cup. Ken Campbell's video column reacts to Joe Bowen announcing the 2025-26 season will be his last. Bowen announced Friday that the 2025-26 season will be his last [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-play-by-play-commentator-joe-bowen-announces-2025-26-season-will-be-last-behind-microphone]. If the Maple Leafs could win a Stanley Cup (who are we kidding here?) it would put a bow on Bowen's outstanding career and allow him to pass the mic off to his successor with a Stanley Cup ring. And speaking of his successor, the perfect one might be in the place where it all started for Bowen. David Bowen, Joe's son, does play-by-play for the OHL [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl]'s Sudbury Wolves for the CKLU-FM radio station and will graduate from university the same year Joe leaves the booth. Joe and David Bowen (Photo courtesy of David and Joe Bowen) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/5e76bc88-2a7a-40fa-b24e-58b566202799.jpeg] Joe and David Bowen (Photo courtesy of David and Joe Bowen) There will be tons of interest in this job, but the Leafs would do themselves a favor by considering David. He's young, smart, energetic and he has a couple of years' experience. And as Joe told me for a piece I did on the two of them [https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/some-day-legendary-leafs-voice-joe-bowen-may-decide-to-drop-the-mic-his-son/article_bd9d852e-9c68-11ef-9d34-4b48907944f3.html], "He's a lot better than I was at his age." Watch today's video column for more, and share your thoughts. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
