Few things would feel as good as standing on a cliff and looking back at the road traveled. For Bob McKenzie, the road has been long, indeed. But the cliff he stands atop isn’t too small either, and we suspect McKenzie does get a clear view of the path he has been walking upon for almost five decades. However, it’s now time for the celebrity hockey analyst to finally call it a day at the office, and his colleagues are justifiably feeling bittersweet.

Back in 2020, McKenzie, who has been working for TSN since 2000, mentioned via a social media post that he was about to set sail upon a semi-retirement. For his fans, it was a reminder that the NHL insider was nearing the end of his illustrious career and would soon be hanging up his boots. Well, it looks like we’ve arrived at the dreaded hour, friends. But it’s a moment the folks over at TSN took as an opportunity to note their gratitude to McKenzie for his devoted services through the years, instead of brooding about the hockey celebrity’s career decision.

Bob took to his X handle to announce his retirement with a long and emotional post on July 1. Just minutes later, the official TSN account went on the same platform to wave its hat at the NHL insider. “End of an era for @TSNBobMcKenzie, as we celebrate his retirement in his last #FreeAgentFrenzy on TSN,” the social media update by the sports news network read.

In the accompanying video, Bob can be seen announcing his retirement decision to fans on live TV, while covering his apparently last segment of Free Agent Frenzy. “Legend, great friend, Hall of Famer,” McKenzie’s co-host lists all the things that make the former one of the most iconic faces in the industry. After the veteran’s announcement, McKenzie’s smiling colleague once again names all the major milestones of Bob’s long career before sneaking in a suggestion about Brad Marchand.

The entire segment was lucid and was more about McKenzie than sports. As his co-host continued to share Bob’s specialties (“Rapper!“), the latter joked that he’s more open to reveling in his admirers’ attention than he used to be.

Gord Sinclair and Paul Langlois soon appeared on screen in a specially-made video, where the duo can be seen enjoying a drink in the warm sun, playing golf. The two The Tragically Hip members then invited McKenzie to join them to kick off his retirement life in style. But Bob might not be too eager to hit the golf course right away. After all, he did have a special place in his heart about covering Free Agent Frenzy, which we suspect he would miss.

“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,” McKenzie recalled how the July 1 event has always been something he looked forward to. TSN subsequently went on with showcasing a tailor-made video, a compilation of special moments from McKenzie’s illustrious career, but Bob’s buddy did mention that they had to leave out the clip from the 2006 Stanley Cup where McKenzie almost lynched a fan for jumping onto TSN’s set. But amidst all that light-heartedness of Tuesday’s segment, Bob didn’t forget to mention the one thing that made his journey at TSN so memorable.

“The best thing about TSN is the people,” he said without beating around the bush, as his colleagues respectfully accepted his nod of the hat. And to show their appreciation for a job well done, TSN finally presented McKenzie with a silver hockey stick (despite him mentioning a car would have been nicer) as a parting gift. However, McKenzie wouldn’t be the only hockey insider to call it quits in 2025.

Bob McKenzie will have a few comrades to talk hockey even after retirement

The New York Rangers missed the 2025 playoffs after a brutal regular season campaign, marking the first time they let it happen since 2021. But it wasn’t the only heartbreak that the Rangers fans had to deal with. After 40 years of calling New York’s games, Sam Rosen announced that he will finally embark on the next chapter of his life, where he will only be listening to others calling the plays instead of doing it himself. “There are a couple of schools where I might like to teach a course in broadcasting and communication, something along those lines,” Rosen said about what he’d like to do after concluding a brilliant career in the commentator’s box.

Then, in early May, another bolt out of the blue struck the Rangers’ camp. Long-time analyst Joe Micheletti announced that he would also follow the footsteps of Rosen and go into retirement. “We decided that now is the right time to retire, and we look forward to spending more time with our family,” Micheletti wrote in a social media statement, and the fans were absolutely gutted.

Then in June, player-turned-coach-turned-broadcaster Don Cherry dropped yet another bomb, announcing that his podcast, Grapevine Podcast, had run its course. A lot of mates for McKenzie to have a chat over and look back with love on their collective careers? Probably!