Brian Leetch Retires

After an 18 year career, 16 of those with the Rangers, Brian Leetch has decided to hang up his skates. Leetch started his career with the Rangers in 1986 when he was drafted out of Boston College. He made his first start for the Rangers in 1988, and was part of the US Olympic team that year (and again in 1998 & 2002).

Leetch was part of the storied 1994 Rangers team that won the Stanley Cup after a 54-year drought. In a playoff run that included the amazing goal-keeping of Mike Richter, not to mention Mark Messier’s hat-trick in game 6 of the Conference Finals against the Devils - a game Messier guaranteed the Rangers would win, it was Leetch’s play that drew the most praise, earning him the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff’s best player.

The 10 time All-Star and 2 time Norris Trophy winner (best defenseman), scored 247 goals with 781 assists for 1,028 points, making him one of only seven NHL defensemen with at least 1,000 career points.

My favorite player of that 1994 team, Leetch’s was the first jersey I ever got. I was very disappointed when the Rangers decided to let him go a few years ago, and wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.