I’ve been a very busy person during this tumultuous Toronto Maple Leafs season, and I’m not always able to catch the game on TV.
Whenever the TV broadcast was unavailable, I would listen to the radio broadcasts of Toronto Maple Leafs games through the NHL app. The first time I did this for the 2021-22 season, I was reminded of the enthusiasm and sheer jubilation of a Canadian broadcasting legend.
That legend’s name is Joe Bowen.
I live in the U.S and I go to school in Oklahoma. Joe Bowen’s broadcast isn’t something that I’ve had much access too over my life thus far, but I’m glad I started listening to his work. I just seem to enjoy Leafs games more when Joe Bowen is doing the play-by-play. It’s time for him to come back to TV.
Toronto Maple Leafs and Joe Bowen
I have nothing against Chris Cuthbert, but Joe Bowen just brings a certain element to Leafs games that Sportsnet and TSN are lacking these days.
Despite what opposing fans think of the coverage that the Leafs have on Canadian TV networks, the Leafs don’t really have a “home” announcer for TV broadcasts since Bowen has been taken off of television. Cuthbert is a national broadcaster, not a Toronto one.
As long as the Toronto broadcast is called “Leafs on TSN” When the Leafs are on that network, we should at least sometimes have a more regional broadcaster like Bowen.
Am I being a massive homer for saying this?
Absolutely, but that’s not the point.
This isn’t a tin-foil hat rant on how Sportsnet and TSN is anti-Leafs. We all know that isn’t true. However, it would be nice if we could get Joe Bowen back on TV for a few games next season. The enthusiasm he brings is unmatched by any other play-by-play man I’ve ever listened to for a hockey game. The back and forth he does with his partner Jim Ralph always gets a laugh out of me no matter what game it is.
The Leafs could be playing the Blue Jackets on a Tuesday in February and I would want to listen to Bowen’s commentary. It’s just that enjoyable.
I’m not asking for Bowen to do every game. That would be unreasonable. However, I don’t think it would be asking for much for Bowen to make appearances on TV when the Leafs are playing on TSN. I’m not familiar with how his contract works, but the Maple Leafs Radio Network is broadcasted on TSN Radio.
Per The Athletic, nothing is going to change, at least for this season.
I’ve loved listening to Leafs games on the radio and I hope to see Joe Bowen back on TV in some capacity next season.