Is tonight Rick's last call?

[PASabreFan]

Is tonight Rick's last call?

[woods-racer]

It may be more hope than reality but I expect him back for a game or 2.

[Taro T]

Really hope that they've told him that he'll get to call the 1st period of the 2nd home playoff game (it wouldn't be fair to Dunleavy or whomever else it is working PbP then to take the 1st period of the 1st game &/or the 1st home game) and also the 1st period of their 2nd home Stanley Cup game (same comment as previously).

That'll give us all something to look forward to, and more importantly HIM something to look forward to.  He can't just go and fade off w/ no purpose anymore not that he isn't calling games anymore.  He'll have to stay healthy & enthused & have a reason to get up every morning.  We NEED him.

[Carmel Corn]

I hope this is not his final, final game call.  My gut tells me he will not return to call a game after tonight.  Hopefully he will still be active in the organization in a non-broadcast role.

[thewookie1]

My guess is this will be his last regular season game; he might come back in some capacity if we were to make a playoff appearance in the next couple years. 

[Marvin]

I think he will come back to say "hi" here or there, but not more unless the Sabres have 3 wins in a Stanley Cup Final.  Then he won't be able to resist being there.

[spndnchz]

I’d just assume he has a get out of retirement free card in his pocket.

[Zamboni]

He may come back and say hello or visit in the press box with DD, but as far as a full on play-by-play of a game, I think he’s done. 
and of course I hate to sound grim… But you always hear about those people who work a really long time, then retire, and The thing that they woke up for on a daily basis is gone,  So their health diminishes and they end up passing away a short time later.

Of course I hope this doesn’t happen… But it has crossed my mind.

[triumph_communes]

He won’t last long after stopping working 

[Weave]

26 minutes ago, Zamboni said:

He may come back and say hello or visit in the press box with DD, but as far as a full on play-by-play of a game, I think he’s done. 
and of course I hate to sound grim… But you always hear about those people who work a really long time, then retire, and The thing that they woke up for on a daily basis is gone,  So their health diminishes and they end up passing away a short time later.

Of course I hope this doesn’t happen… But it has crossed my mind.

The only reason I don’t expect him to pay a visit (or 7) to the booth after retirement is because I expect that a good reason he’s shutting it down now is because of the difficulty in getting around and up and down now.  And that isn’t going to get better when he stops doing it regularly.

 

[Flashsabre]

If the Sabres make a run to the Finals in the next couple years then I bet you he will call a game if he still can.

[Andrew Amerk]

I don’t think we will hear him doing play by play ever again. 

I bet we will hear him make guest appearances for playoff games, if his health allows it. 

[HumanSlinky39]

I'd love to see him come back and call a playoff game, but RJ strikes me as a guy that isn't coming back after he says he is done.

[BuffaloStanleyCup]

I could see him filling in for a game or two over the course of a season.  It must be hard for RJ to leave.